Bird Feeders 101

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The Finch Mating Habits

Finches display a sudden change in mating behavior as they become adults. They go through the same changes that teenagers experience as they reach the age of puberty. Finches are said to become more aggressive and vocal as they reach their adult stage. Both the male and female finch will start calling out more often to signal that they are in their territory or are in search for a mate.

During the courtship period, female finches ask for food from potential mates. The process of feeding the females is done through mock feeding or regurgitating food into the female’s bill.

During the mating season, males bring nesting materials in their bills for the female who takes care of building the nest. The males are also very protective of the females and defend their mates more than defend the territory around their nest. Other finch species will fight to the end when they see another male near their territory. So after marking its territory, a male finch will usually call and sing to attract females and reinforce his claim on the area.

Young finches are weaned early as their parents push them away especially when the adults start breeding again. This aggression between the parents and their offspring is mild and may entail growling, chasing and some feather plucking for the stubborn young. Parents bred in captivity can keep their young in their territory.

Male finches normally establish their territory no matter how small. This action is aimed at raising a family in that particular territory and to display his strength to the female. The females, meanwhile, don’t involve themselves much in marking a territory. However, they fight with other female finches over a male. Though believed to be monogamous just like other songbirds, both sexes may also have different mates.

Once a female meets a male, the proud and lucky male will sing and dance to show off to the female. If the female accepts the male, she will raise and fan her tail. The mating then begins. After a few mating sessions, the pair will search for a nest where the female will lay and incubate her eggs. A female finch is very devoted to her eggs that she will not go away from her eggs during the incubation period. This is a positive sign because it usually results in a close bond between the parents and healthy offspring.

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