Fun Strawberry Finch Facts For Kids

The strawberry finch (Amandava amandava), also known as the red munia or the red avadavat, is a sparrow-sized bird with spectacular bright red plumage speckled with white spots. However, the signature look of the males of the species is only temporary and worn only during the breeding season.

Once the breeding season is over, the males take on a plainer and duller look like the female strawberry finches.

Native throughout South and Southeast Asia, these species of finches are most common in the tropical regions of Northwestern and Central India. They are usually found in the flat plains with an abundance of tall grasses.

These finches belong to the waxbill group of birds that includes passerines (songbirds). Even though their general physical build is similar to sparrows, the strawberry finches are easily distinguished by their seasonal red beak and the striking vermilion red and white-spotted breeding plumage of the males.

Want to know more about the strawberry finch? Then read on for more interesting facts about them! If you like this article, check out the chaffinch and the Gouldian finch.

Strawberry Finch Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a strawberry finch?

A strawberry finch is a species of waxbill bird of the family Estrildidae.

What class of animal does a strawberry finch belong to?

Strawberry finches belong to the class of Aves, which includes all birds.

How many strawberry finches are there in the world?

The global population size of the strawberry finches has not been quantified.

Where does a strawberry finch live?

Strawberry finches mostly live in tropical flat plains with crops or tall grasses, preferably with a nearby water source.

What is a strawberry finch's habitat?

The strawberry finch's natural habitat and distribution extend throughout South and Southeast Asia from Pakistan to the Malay Peninsula and the adjoining islands.

The nominate subspecies (Amandava amandava amandava) is found in Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, the Burmese form (Amandava amandava flavidiventris) is also common in Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and China, and the Javan form (Amandava amandava punicea) is found in Cambodia.

Who do strawberry finches live with?

Other than in the breeding season, the strawberry finches live in small flocks but may also be seen in the wild, living in larger flocks of 100 birds. Male and female pairs stay together during the breeding season.

How long does a strawberry finch live?

Waxbills or finches are known to have a life expectancy of four years in the wild.

How do they reproduce?

Before mating, the male birds try to attract the female finches with a vibrant display of their bright red plumage accompanied by a mating dance comprising bowing, singing, and hopping. The breeding pairs build nests and stick together throughout the breeding season.

The breeding season varies regionally but usually begins in the second half of the rainy season and extends into the following dry months. Female strawberry finches lay a clutch consisting of four to six eggs. The clutch of eggs is incubated by both the parents during the day and by the female of the breeding pair during the night.

The eggs are incubated for 11-14 days. After hatching, the young birds take about 20 days to fledge. Both members of a breeding pair are involved in feeding their young.

What is their conservation status?

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, strawberry finches are of Least Concern.

Strawberry Finch Fun Facts

What does strawberry finch look like?

Both the male and female birds molt into distinct breeding plumage every year. During the breeding season, the male birds wear a crown and back of deep red feathers with streaks of white under their eyes.

The breast, undersides, and sides of the head have scarlet feathers. The tail is round and black. The lower belly and the wing feathers are mostly dark red or black with white spots on the flanks, tail feathers, and wings.

In contrast, molting female birds during the breeding season gives them a chest and underbelly that is bright yellow-orange. The beak of both males and females is red.

When the breeding season is over, the male birds assume a modest plumage coloration like the females; there are black streaks under their eyes, and the underbelly can range from creamy yellow to creamy tan. The tail, wings, top of the head, and back become dark brown with fewer white spots. The juvenile finches have a dull grayish-brown color.

How cute are they?

The strawberry finches with their deep red plumage and white spots look adorably cute.

How do they communicate?

Although not particularly loud, strawberry finches are quite vocal. The male birds have long location calls, but those of the females are softer, shorter, and used less frequently. Both members of a breeding pair use vocalizations during pre-mating ritualistic displays.

A shrill call is typical of finches showing aggressive behavior. These birds also give out typical high-pitched calls in times of potential threat to the young. When in the nests, the juveniles learn songs from their father.

How big is a strawberry finch?

The strawberry finches range in length between 3-4 in (7.6-10.2 cm) with an average wingspan of 19.3 in (49 cm). These finches are smaller than a typical house sparrow.

How fast can a strawberry finch fly?

Strawberry finches are known to fly with rapid wingbeats.

How much does a strawberry finch weigh?

Strawberry finches weigh between 0.2-0.3 oz (7.2-9.5 g).

What are the male and female names of the species?

Male and female strawberry finches have no distinct names.

What would you call a baby strawberry finch?

A baby strawberry finch would be called a hatchling or fledgling once it learns to fly.

What do they eat?

The diet of these finches is quite diverse. They take an omnivorous diet consisting primarily of grass seeds as well as termites, ant larvae, mosquito larvae, caterpillars, and centipedes. They also feed on fruit when available.

Are they dangerous?

The strawberry finch is a harmless bird.

Would they make a good pet?

Strawberry finches can be excellent pet birds when given proper care and attention. They can be kept in a cage but do best in large aviaries where other bird species are also present. The aviaries or the cages have to be well-ventilated and should have enough room for the birds to take small flights.

Materials like long grasses, coconut fibers, or charred wood can be given to the birds to build their nests. Birds kept in a cage or aviary have a diverse food menu and can be fed green leafy vegetables, fruits, or finch mixes consisting of millets and seeding grasses.

Besides, fruit fly larvae, small mealworms, waxworms, cuttlebone, and grit can also be included in their menu. A pair of these birds can cost you anything between $80-100 USD.

Did you know...

Introduced populations of the strawberry finches exist in Hawaii, Singapore, Puerto Rico, Portugal, Malaysia, Egypt, Fiji, Brunei, and southern Spain.

The gathering of strawberry finches is called clumping. During this time, they create and maintain bonds by engaging in social preening or grooming.

As part of their pre-mating ritual, the male finch of the breeding pair holds a feather or grass stem in its mouth, keeps its feathers erect, and deeply bows its head in front of the mating partner.

What is the range of the Strawberry Finch?

The natural range of the strawberry finches stretches from the Indus Valley in Pakistan to the plains of the Brahmaputra in eastern India and the Malay Peninsula.

What is the other name for strawberry finch?

Strawberry finches are also known as red avadavats. About 200 years ago, the red avadavats were popular in the pet trade, and Ahmedabad was the breeding and exporting hub of the Amandava amandava. Hence, both the common name (red avadavat) and the species name (amandava) are derived from the city of Ahmedabad in the state of Gujrat, India.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other birds including the southern cassowary and the golden pheasant.

You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one of our strawberry finch coloring pages.