Crossbred

A crossbred star finch is a small estrildid finch with Neochmia ruficauda ancestry that has been crossed with another finch, or, in looser aviary use, a bird from mixed color-variety lines. Pure star finches are Australian birds with red bills, red facial coloring in many males, olive to yellow-green body tones, and fine pale spots along the flanks. Captive varieties include normal green, pied, yellow, and white forms, which can complicate quick visual identification.

In aviaries, crossbred birds should be labeled honestly and kept out of pure star finch breeding programs, especially where mutation lines or conservation-minded records are maintained. Their day-to-day needs are those of active waxbills: a roomy flight, compatible companions, shelter from cold drafts, and a diet based on small finch seed supplemented with seeding grasses, greens, and soft or live food during breeding. Avoid releasing hybrids or unwanted birds.

Colors: Normal Green, Pied, White, Yellow