::: ALCON :::

GREAT-BILLED SEED-FINCH

With melodious song, similar to a flute, the Great-Billed Seed-Finch (Oryzoborus maximiliani) is one of the more famous singing birds of Brazil. They live in isolated areas near to the marshy regions, in Minas Gerais, Bahia and also in the Center-West region of Brazil. They are territorial birds and, in the mating time, they don’t permit others birds to trespassing its demarcated limits.

They belong to the same genus of the Lesser Seed Finch and are differentiate by the presence of body entire black (male) and are a little bigger (15 cm on average). The sense of directions, vision and hearing is very accurate. They can live around 30 years and be worth true fortunes.

Reproduction:
The female of the Great-Belied, as well as the young individuals, presents a brown coloration that differentiates them of the adult male, who is black only with one little white spot in each wing. The use of basket nests similar to the Canaries or dry shells of coconut is indicated. Organic fibers and grass for the nest is very good. The female lays 2 eggs in average and hatching those for 18 days. After 20º day of birth the chicks are ready to leave the nest, however the parents still will feed them until their 45º days of live.

Maintenance:
The Great-Belied Seed Finch can be kept in an aviary with a tree or in birdcage of 60 cm of size, 35 cm of height and 25 cm of width at least. Clean daily the water and food bowl, as well as the birdcage. A pot where it can eventually take bathe is a very interesting. The bath also helps during the period of the hatching one, guaranteeing the humidity for eggs. Very crowding places and with wind currents, should be avoided.

Feed:
alcon Club Curió (alcon Club Lesser Seed Finch), alcon Club Farinhada – Pássaros Frugívoros e Insetívoros (alcon Club Fruit and Insect Food), alcon Club Papa para Filhotes - Pássaros.