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DESCRIPTION 7 inches (18cm). Orange-yellow underparts, blending into red throat, rump and undertail. Yellow on brown folded wing, mantle olive with red, black crown. Legs brownish, beak yellow, eyes red. Female lacks red throat and rump, is duller on yellow.
NATURAL DISTRIBUTION Eastern Nepal through Indo-China to Sumatra.
HABITAT Mountain forests, except in winter, when it descends to lower terrain, joining other birds. Flocks up to 10, feeding on insects or fruit near ground.
DIET Mealworm, ant pupae, millet, canary-grass seed, maw seed, hemp, chopped boiled egg, berries, banana slices, chopped apple or pear, soaked raisins, soaked stale bread and grit, lettuce, spinach, chickweed.
SPECIAL NEEDS Male's full, deep call and song too loud for indoors.
CAGE LIFE Good breeder, generally tolerant of other birds in large community aviary. Pair builds free cup-shaped nest together, between twigs, preferably in thick small bushes or shrubs. Line with dry bamboo leaves, roots (prefers coloured ones) and moss. In aviary, also uses canary 'string nests' with coconut fibres, roots and maybe bamboo leaves. Breeds April to August. Lays 3 to 4 light green-blue eggs with red-brown and brown markings mostly at blunt end. Incubation 14 days by both parents, mainly female, fledging 13 to 14 days.
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