Lonchura cucullata

ORIGIN:

Widely distributed bird from central Africa southward except in the extreme southwest. It inhabits open grassland, scrub, and forest country where an abundance of small seeds is available. They are common in cultivated areas in close proximity to human development.

DIET:

Mainly small seeds of grasses and herbaceous plants which it may collect from the plants directly or from the ground.. May take some insect food during nesting, and relished half-ripe and green seeds.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Usually seen in small flocks or family parties during the breeding season, and several pairs may nest quite close to each other. Otherwise, they may form large flocks of 50 or more birds. Somewhat aggressive, surprising for their rather smallish size, they may be aggressive towards birds much larger than themselves, especially if defending a nesting territory.

REPRODUCTION:

Following a courting dance during which the male holds a stem of grass in his bill while performing a sing/hop ritual, the male proceeds to gather grass stems and blades, seed panicles, plant fibers, and sometimes fine feathers or animal hair. He and the hen weave the collection into a ball in a shrub or tree from 3 to 12 feet in the air. A small entrance tube is on the side. The 4-6 white eggs are tended mostly by the hen. Incubation lasts 13 days and the young, fed on soft seeds and insects, fledge in about three weeks.

HABITAT DESIGN:

All the mannikins like plenty of tall grass in which to forage and to nest and hide in during the day. Clump bamboo are especially appreciated (the clump types are easier to maintain in the aviary than the runners, which can get out of control) as are some of the taller fescue, pannicum, and miscanthus species. Water for bathing is much appreciated.

This is a very gregarious species and they prefer a colony arrangement of four or more pair to single pair arrangements; however they will breed in cages as singles. Subscribing to the "power in numbers" thinking, they can become aggressive and territorial if several birds are in the same enclosure with other species, but no serious fighting has been reported.

Bronze wings like to roost high in a tree and several will clump together for safety during the night. They are usually intolerant of other species in their roosting territory, usually only of the single branch on which they have gathered.

DIET:

A mixture of small millets and canary grass seed or the standard finch mix is sufficient for this species. The addition of green food is important but many domestically raised individuals will not take insects or other soft food supplements. The have been raised quite successfully on dry and soaked seed alone.

BREEDING

Many aviculturists have successfully bred them. They accept a variety of wooden nest boxes, some with round entrance holes or with half open fronts. They will also rear their young in large wicker baskets, or cover over an open canary nest cup. The finished structure is a rather large and sometimes-bulky globe woven from grass stems and leaves and lines with a few soft feathers. As males and females look alike, the best results have been achieved when several birds in a single enclosure are allowed to choose their own mates.

The courtship display of the male is somewhat amusing. He is most earnest, but the song is almost inaudible. The grass-in-bill dance is quite charming, though, and usually wins him the heart of his intended.

The addition of soaked or germinated seed to the diet (if not already included) and, again, plenty of leafy green food are all that is necessary to have success with Bronze wings. The young can safely be left with the adults to increase the colony size, taking care to include enough different gene lines to avoid serious inbreeding.