An African Finch in the English Midlands? (1 Viewer)

[Renee Redstart]

At about 7.45am this morning, 19th September, in my Northampton suburban garden, I saw an unusual small Finch making good use of my seed feeders. It continued to do so for most of the morning, but I didn't see it this afternoon. I couldn't find it in any of my British or European field guides, but my Ex-beeber friends on BF pointed me to websites with African Green Singer Finches, also known as Mozambique Canaries, on. We think we've ID'd it, (as a male Green Singer Finch) but we would like other people's opinions.
Is it an escapee, or could it possibly be passing through my garden on migration? How do you think it will fare? It didn't sing for its supper, by the way!

I managed to grab a few shots which show its markings very well.

 

[halftwo]

This looks like Yellow-fronted canary, Serinus mozambicus, a sub-Saharan job that is definately an escape!
Looks well fed & it will probably survive.

 

[redeyedvideo]

Renee, see here


Dave J

 

[halftwo]

Renee, see here


Dave J

So it has migrated - Doncaster to Northampton!

 

[Renee Redstart]

Thanks to everyone who has replied so far. I googled Serinus mozambicus to find that it has several names, two of which are Yellow fronted Canary, and Green Singer/Singing Finch.
All the pictures, including the Doncaster one, compare well with mine, so I'm happy enough now with ID. I just worry how it is going to cope with our winter if it has escaped from captivity and doesn't go home.

 

[Gentoo]

Green-Singers are very hardy birds and can adapt to almost any climate and are good at finding food. Barring predation which too they are good at avoiding, this bird will probably do quite well in England where there are lots of food sources for it. If it comes back watch it interact with the other finches, they can hold there own quite well even against Greenfinches.

This particular bird is a male, told by the lack of the "neckless" of spots along the throat and cleaner yellow underparts.

 

[Renee Redstart]

Thank you so much Gentoo for this reassurance.
Well, my little fellow was back again at about the same time this morning. He made straight for the seed feeder and had a good long breakfast. After a quick break, he was back and feeding on the pyracantha berries. I managed to grab a few shots of him, only through the window unfortunately. They were a bit dark, so I've auto-enhanced them. I've put a couple of them on, and sorry if the quality is a bit grainy, and the colours not quite right.

 

[James Lowther]

I think (?) that green singing-finch is the name used by aviculturists (that's cagebird enthusiasts to you and me!), so is beyond the pale in polite birding society

Yellow-fronted canary sounds better anyway.

Once saw one in Topsham, Devon, and managed to ID it much later from my notes!!

 

[Renee Redstart]

I think (?) that green singing-finch is the name used by aviculturists (that's cagebird enthusiasts to you and me!), so is beyond the pale in polite birding society

Yellow-fronted canary sounds better anyway.

I'll stick with Serinus mozambicus then!!

 

[Jos Stratford]

Thanks to everyone who has replied so far. I googled Serinus mozambicus to find that it has several names, two of which are Yellow fronted Canary, and Green Singer/Singing Finch.

Unfortunately multiple names are often the case with many African species, especially those that straddle several countries. In Southern Africa at least, most widespread name is indeed Yellow-fronted Canary. Hadn't heard the Green Singer label before, I guess borne from my lack of contact with cage bird enthusiasts.

Still, a rather nice bird to have brightening your feeders, regardless of origin. As for survival, agree there is no reason it shouldn't survive - it occurs across a wide range of environments within its natural range, including areas that see temperatures down to an average British winter.

 

[KnockerNorton]

Green Singing Finch is the name most commonly used in UK birdkeeping circles. I used to breed these, and it is indeed a male GSF.

They're pretty common in captivity in the UK, and retail for about £20 a pair, although most of them are imported wild-caught birds. They do breed quite readily in captivity, however, if the conditions are ok. they're quite pugnacious, a bit like greenfinches, and can certainly hold their own like Gentoo says. I've not heard of any successfully wintering in the UK in the wild (although they're hardy enough to live in an unheated aviary in all but the very coldest weather), but finding summering birds isn't too unusual. I once found a bird holding territory in a hedgerow for several months, singing away. The song is very pleasant, a bit like a Linnet.

 

[James Lowther]

I know it's not proof of successful overwintering, but the bird i saw in Devon was in February 2003, and had apparently been around for a while...

 

[Gentoo]

Green-singing finch is the avicultural name and I apologize for using this. I was an aviculturist working with small finches for many years and this was one bird I always kept. Yellow-Fronted Canary is the ornithilogical name. They're rarer in the US now as it has become illegal to import wild cought birds.

Your bird seems to have developed some habbits which means he's been out in the UK for some time. The only reason they have not yet become established as a wild breeding species is because there not enough of them to sustain a population.

 

[Renee Redstart]

My thanks to everyone who has enlightened me on so much about this beautiful little bird. Now that I know the ornithological name, I could look it up in the Gallery, and I found some really marvellous shots to add to my own efforts in my personal records.
So far it has joined my feeders for two mornings running, but not come in the afternoons at all. I shall keep a look out for it, and hope for the best.

 

[Jodd]

I too had one of these little fellas on my feeders this morning. He looked fit and well and was holding is own with the greenfinches and sparrows.

 

[GreatHornedOwl]

... Nice little bird and surely a joy to find one at your feeder, but I wonder ... what about competition with the small native carduelis species ? Goldfinches, Redpolls, Siskins, ... ? Just in case a wild population of Yellow-fronted canary would be established in Europe, that is.

 

[Gentoo]

... Nice little bird and surely a joy to find one at your feeder, but I wonder ... what about competition with the small native carduelis species ? Goldfinches, Redpolls, Siskins, ... ? Just in case a wild population of Yellow-fronted canary would be established in Europe, that is.

They have different feeding habits than the Carduelis species. These birds feed on the ground most of the time and experiments have shown that if given a choice, the prefer to feed there. Most Carduelis species prefer to feed above ground with the exception of Greenfinches. Greenfiches however often take different food because of their larger size. The European species with the most similar habits is the Serin Serinus serinus.

 

[aeshna5]

Several years ago I had one regularly on feeders in the garden for several months. It was less wily than other birds + as a Sparrowhawk sometimes perched in Fig Tree by feeders, I suspect he ended his days as lunch!

 

[KnockerNorton]

They have different feeding habits than the Carduelis species. These birds feed on the ground most of the time and experiments have shown that if given a choice, the prefer to feed there. Most Carduelis species prefer to feed above ground with the exception of Greenfinches. Greenfiches however often take different food because of their larger size. The European species with the most similar habits is the Serin Serinus serinus.

I agree, their main food seems to be grass seeds and small invertebrates. Carduelis usually favour tree seeds, and goldfinch is fairly specialised anyway.

I can't see them being able to sustain a wild population, even with a concerted deliberate introduction (and I bet there have been several small-scale attempts in years gone by!). I don't think the climate is right - too wet and too cold for too long in winter. People have tried with Atlantic Canary and all kinds of other stuff, and it never really takes off.