DESCRIPTION 5 inches (13cm). Greyish-brown upperparts and wings, with grey face, black lores and black band across chest. Flanks black with white round spots, tail black and uppertail coverts red. Underparts and undertail coverts white. Eyes brown, beak red, legs grey-brown.
NATURAL DISTRIBUTION Eastern Australia.
HABITAT Woods, grassland, always near watercourses; usually in small groups, during breeding season in pairs. Often build nests in lower part of nests of birds of prey. They also build bullet-shaped free nests.
DIET Insects, seeds.
SPECIAL NEEDS Tend to get fat if kept in con-fined quarters; keep only one pair per well-planted aviary or large cage. Don't tolerate temperatures below 60°F (15°C); outside birds must be moved inside in autumn.
CAGE LIFE Often bully smaller birds or interfere with their nests, breaking their eggs or killing their young. Also advisable to let them choose their own partner. Provide with selection of nesting materials: coconut fibres, leaf veins, wool, moss and soft dry grass (up to 20 inches/ 50cm long), but avoid long, stringy parts which could cause entangling. Use various nest boxes or build free-standing bullet-shaped nests in thick bush. Lay 5 to 6 eggs, incubation 12 to 14 days by both parents, fledging 25 to 30 days. House independent young in separate flight to deter male from chasing them around.
