Peter Twinspot

Scientific Name: Hypargos niveoguttatus

Origin: East Africa

This attractive bird requires careful acclimatization and it should always be considered rather delicate, even when firmly established. It must be protected from sudden changes in temperature.

Description:

Size: 13 cm (5 in)

COCK:

Head: brownish-grey. Back: reddish-brown. Neck, sides of head and chin: bright red. Upperparts: black with white spots on flanks. Wings: dark brown. Tail: black and red. Beak: black. Legs: cream to grey.

HEN:

Much less red on head, generally paler colored and with fewer white spots.

Diet: (Seedeater)

A varied diet is necessary. Mixed millets, plain canary seed, spray millet and sonic live food, including chopped mealworms, fresh ants' eggs and a little green food, form the basic diet. Germinated seed and grass seed are relished. In cold weather and while breeding, stale white bread soaked in milk, egg food and a little cod liver oil help to keep this bird in good condition. Fruit is also enjoyed, particularly oranges. Grit and cuttlefish bone are essential.

Breeding:

The display of the cock bird prior to breeding is similar to that of the Green Twinspot. A pair usually constructs a nest in bushes a little off the ground. Box and dwarf conifers are favored nesting sites. Nest boxes may be provided, although they make their own nests quite successfully using grasses and other material. A narrow entrance passage is constructed.

During the breeding season the cock chases other birds away from the nest site, but otherwise he is peaceful. The young hatch in 13 days and fledge in a further three weeks. The young should be fed chopped mealworms, egg food, soaked bread and germinated seed for quite some time. They should not be expected to thrive on hard seed alone for several months after leaving the nest.

Ariary Tips

• This specie of bird is considered to be one of the delicate species of finches. Proper care has to be taken for caging and transportation of the bird.
• The birds should be kept in well planted aviaries.
• In order to lessen down the extent of aggression among pairs, you are recommended to keep the pair of birds separately. Keep a single pair in one aviary.

• The peter twinspot bird generally spends most of its time in the groind of the aviary.
• Hens may start laying eggs at the age of 6 months but ideally the hens should be allowed to breed and lay eggs only when they get fully matured. The hens are fit for laying eggs on attaining 12 months of age.
• The young birds should be removed as soon as they are independent enough to arrange for their own food. The young ones can often be victims of the aggression of the adult parents especially of the cock.
• The young ones may return to the nest after they have completely fledged.