Masked Grassfinches are vastly underestimated by most birdkeepers, mainly because of their fairly uninteresting plumage colouring. Admittedly the warm brown colour is not the most striking plume on earth but they do have an unbeatable beak. It is such vivid yellow that it is looks almost manufactured like a bright plastic toy - dare I say it even more impressive than the average waxbill. Many a birdkeepers first encounter with the Masked Grassfinch is often a practice run for keeping Gouldian finches (though few would admit to such a mischievous deed), being as they are virtually identical in most of their needs, climate and mannerisms.
Sexing Masked Grassfinches is by no means the easiest thing to do, both having virtually identical markings and colouring. Indeed only when the males are in good breeding condition do the marginal differences become apparent, this is usually around January to March in Southern Hemisphere climates. This is also probably the ideal time to select and buy your birds as all signs of moulting will be long gone and there is plenty of time to settle in to new accommodation, birds bought much later in the year may not show any breeding or coupling intent till the following year, of course there will always be acceptions. As I was saying, when in good condition the male birds will have some distinguishable differences such as a darker mask (some say larger, but this is totally unreliable) and possibly a marginally thicker band of darker feathers above the upper mandible. Those experienced at sexing Mannikins may also be able to identify the squarer crown, slightly thicker upper mandible and darker tail feathers and trousers. The most tell tale signs will only be seen in adequate size flights when the male may be inclined to show off his courting skills by 'bobbing', 'crowing' and 'token offering'. It has been said that the female is easiest to recognise by the fact that "she is the one that lays eggs" and this I must admit is probably the safest way to tell.
Masked Grassfinches will happily eat foreign finch mixture, but it is better to give them the seed types that they best thrive on, the staple seed for these birds is canary, white millet, and panicum. It has been suggested that these should be provided separately in different feeders as the proportions of either seeds intake will vary during the seasons. They are also quite fond of a little variation every now and then, especially in the breeding season when their diet should be fortified with egg food or cake, sprouted seeds, greens such as plantain, dandelion (flowers and new leaves), water cress and a little digestive assistance with charcoal. Extra vitamins and minerals can also be added in soluble form to their water or sprayed onto food around moult time if birds are looking a little ragged, though these birds do not seem to suffer nearly as badly as their friends the Gouldians, in fact it is often hardly noticable that they are moulting at all. Always supply plenty of their mainstay seed at all time as well as fresh clean water, and a little medicated grit or a mixture of ground cuttlefish, charcoal and baked eggshell.
Masked Grassfinches can be accommodated in a variety of fashions as they are very peacable birds are not known to be aggressive to any other birds. They can safely be kept in a mixed collection of finches and waxbills, often taking to the livefood set out for the waxbills diet. I have been told that it is wise to not mix them with the similar and often mistakenly mixed-up Long-tailed or Black-throated Grassfinches (why beats me, the only similarity is the fact that they have dark markings around the head area!) purely due to their tendency to happily cross-breed. If keeping them in cages a single pair will exist happily in a boxcage 3' x 2' x 18" but will be far more likely to propagate in one a little longer, say a foot longer, though I have seen three pairs kept and bred in a colony cage as small as 6' x 2' x 18". They are indeed happiest and at their most prolific if they are kept on a colony basis in secluded aviaries with plenty of tall grasses and climbing plants, with a minimum temperature of Eight&Mac251;C in winter.
Masked Grassfinches will nest and roost in the usual finch size nest box of 4-5" square with a 1.5-2" hole or half open front, they will lay up to 6 eggs but usually 4/5, any more than 6 and there is the distinct possibility that you may have a pair of hens. Incubation takes about 13 to 16 days and fledging a further 3 or 4 weeks. Masked Grassfinches mainly prefer soft grasses and coconut fibres for nesting materials, never use any manmade fibre as they can become caught up. Once they go to nest keep interference to a bare minimum, Let them get on with it, given a good even temperature and a persevering hen you should expect about a 75% success rate. Young birds show adult plumage marking fairly early on, though these often look quite diluted until their first moult and their beaks are also dark grey for their first couple of months before the characteristic colour emerges. Families of Masked Grassfinches will happily exist in adequately sized aviaries but do keep an eye on young birds as they may be accidentally damaging to further generations just by being nosey so try to find room to separate them if the parents lay a new clutch.
If you are thinking of keeping Masked Grassfinches my advise would be to 'go for it' they are superb characters with no real drawbacks, keep them in dry, draught-proof accommodation with lots of fresh air and sunlight during warmer months and they will thrive.
Thanks to all the Feathered Flyer Message Board Breeders who contributed their experience and help.
Feel free to get in touch with any further questions. You can contact me via the FF Forum my username is 'Laus'.
