Finch compatibility: What finches can be mixed? Aggressive and passive finches
Finch compatibility: When choosing finches for a shared aviary, it’s essential to understand species compatibility. Finches are social birds, but not all species thrive together due to differences in temperament, size, and behavior. Some species may exhibit aggression, and territoriality, or dominate others over food and nesting sites.
Please keep in mind that the list below is based on a general stereotype for each species and that within a species, individuals may have personalities that differ from the stereotype. Use your judgment therefore to determine if individuals within your aviary are truly compatible in a mixed flight.
| Table 1 – Passive These birds are generally docile and can usually be kept with other birds within this table. As always, observe the birds to make sure they are getting along. |
| Black-cheeked Waxbill |
| Black-rumped Waxbill (Red-eared Waxbill) |
| Button Quail |
| Chestnut Munia |
| Chestnut-breasted Finch/Mannikin/Munia |
| Common Waxbill (Saint Helena Waxbill) |
| Green Twinspots (do not mix with Star Finches) |
| Lady Gouldian Finch |
| Masked Grass Finch |
| Owl (Bicheno) Finch |
| Painted Finch |
| Pearl-headed Silverbill |
| Pictorella Finch/Mannikin |
| Pin-tailed Parrot-finch |
| Quail Finch |
| Red-headed Parrot-finch |
| Silverbills (African & Indian) |
| Society (Bengalese) Finch |
| Spice Finch |
| Star Finch (do not mix with Melba Finches or Twinspots) |
| Swee Waxbill |
| White-headed Munia |
| Yellow-rumped Finch |
| Yellow-winged Pytilia |
| Table 2 – Birds that should be housed alone (each pair in its enclosure) for successful breeding to occur (this is not a concern if you do not plan to breed). |
| Avadavats (Red & Green) |
| Blue-breasted Parrot-finch |
| Bronze-winged Mannikin |
| Cordon Bleu Waxbills – Only one pair per mixed aviary. (Do not mix with Purple Grenadiers.) |
| Gold Breasted Waxbill |
| Gray-headed Munia |
| Mannikins, Munias, Nuns |
| Orange Cheeked Waxbill |
| White-backed Munia |
| Table 3 – Designates birds that are aggressive towards each other, and therefore should be limited to only one pair per mixed aviary. |
| Blue-faced Parrot-finch |
| Masked Firefinch |
| Table 4 – Pushy These birds may be housed together in a large enclosure with visual barriers but watch them to make sure they are not unduly harassing each other. Shaft-tail Finches may be suitable companions for some of the birds from Table 1 as well. |
| Dark Firefinch Only one pair per mixed aviary. |
| European Goldfinch |
| Lavender Finch Housed alone but not a concern if you do not plan to breed. Only one pair per mixed aviary. |
| Purple Grenadier (Do not mix with Cordon Bleus or Violet Eared Waxbills.) |
| Shaft-tail Finch (Long-tailed or Heck’s Grassfinch) – (Do not mix with Parsons or Masked Grassfinch) |
| Zebra Finch |
| Whydahs |
| Table 5 – Designates birds that typically become rather aggressive during the breeding period. |
| Aurora Finch |
| Green Singing Finch Only one pair per mixed aviary. |
| Orange-winged Pytilia – Housed alone but not a concern if you do not plan to breed. Only one pair per mixed aviary. (do not mix with Melba Finches) |
| Cutthroat Finch (do not mix with waxbills) |
| Diamond Firetail Finch (Do not mix with other Australian finches) |
| Melba Finch Only one pair per mixed aviary. (Do not mix with other Pytilias, or finches with red masks [e.g. Star Finches]) |
| Saffron Finch |
| Table 6 – Aggressive These birds need a very spacious enclosure with plenty of visual barriers in order to be housed together. Keep a close eye on them and separate birds that quarrel. *Note that the Java Finch is a peaceful bird that may be housed with birds from Table 4 and possibly Table 1 but is placed in Table 6 because of its intimidating size and ability to coexist with the other birds in Table 6. |
| Gray Singing Finch Only one pair per mixed aviary. |
| Java Sparrow/Finch (see *Note above) |
| Weavers |
Finch compatibility: Finches which are generally not suited for a mixed aviary include:
Bar-breasted Firefinches, Crimson Finches, Cuban Melodious Finches, Parson Finches, Peter’s Twinspots, Red-headed Finches, and Violet Eared Waxbills.
Steps to follow after selecting your finches:
After selecting the species, you would like to keep in a mixed aviary (and making sure that each bird is healthy), follow these steps:
- Place all of the birds in a proper enclosure simultaneously and monitor them closely, especially for the first couple of weeks until they are settled in.
- If serious quarreling occurs, remove the aggressors and any injured birds. Because many finches become more aggressive during the breeding period, it may be wise to discourage breeding, especially in smaller enclosures.
- Hybridization can also be a concern if you mix similar species, so it’s wise to avoid housing closely related finches together, particularly if you want to preserve pure genetics.
Finch compatibility General notes:
Finches may be housed with canaries provided that the temperament and body size of the finches and canaries are as similar as possible and that the requirements of both species (dietary, housing, etc.) are being met.
Note that overcrowding birds will cause quarrels, so take steps to ensure that your birds are housed together in a large enough enclosure that is properly accessorized to reduce quarreling.
Never mix finches with hooked-bills (parrots).
Further research for keeping finches:
