|
Topic |
Description |
Authors Experiences |
| Scientific Name |
Volatina jacarina |
| Common Names |
Glossy Grassquit,
Blue-black Grassquit
and
Jacarini |
| Origin |
South America |
|
Size - |
| Jacarini Cock |
Approx. 115mm or 4.5 inches |
| Jacarini Hen |
Approx. 115mm or 4.5 inches |
| Mutations |
Fawn Jacarini (sex-linked)
- see Jacarini Photos |
| Life Span |
to about 7 years |
My original Fawn Jacarini hen is now 8
years old |
| Status in Australian Aviculture |
Secure |
|
My Breeding Season |
September to April |
My location is North Coast of New South Wales, Australia |
| Pairings |
Normally 1 per per aviary |
I also been successful with 2 hens to the
one cock in the same aviary |
| Nest Type |
Cup shaped nest
- see Jacarini Finch Nest |
| Nesting Material |
Coconut Fibre, Hession and cotton wool
- see Jacarini Finch Nest |
| Nest Location |
Neatly constructed
Cup shaped nest is normally build
on the outside of brush within the aviary |
See Jacarini Nest Location within in my
Brush Aviary |
| Nest Construction |
Nest is normally built over approximately
3 days - primarily by the cock bird |
I have experienced that no two pairs are
the same and often the hen will be as active as the cock with the nest
construction |
| Eggs |
2 to 3 |
| Incubation Period |
Approximately 12 days |
The hen spends most of her time sitting
on the eggs. Cock bird will normally sit on the eggs when the hens
leaves the nest for feeding/bathing |
| Fledging |
Approximately 12 days
|
Young Jacarinis fledge and often spend
2-4 days on the ground before they are able to get up into the brush -
see young Jacarinis |
| Independence |
Jacarinis are normally independent around
21 days after fledging |
I leave my young in the aviary for a
further 2 weeks after they become independent before removing to another aviary |
| Nests per Season |
Generally 4 |
Once birds reach about 5 years of age I
have found that after a couple of nests they will often go into a
early moult |
| Food Requirements |
Good Quality general Finch Mix. Live food
is a must during the breeding season. |
During the breeding season my birds are
fed mealworms together with a insectivorous cake. |
| Food Supplements |
Cuttlefish, Eggshells, Charcoal and Grit |
I put these ingredients through a meat
mincer and refresh the supply on a fortnightly basis.
Cuttlefish is always available |
| Subsequent Nests |
Provided there is plenty of nesting
material the Jacarini will normally build a new nest. Some pairs will
often reuse the same nest |
I have also found by removing the old
nest the birds will often build a nest in the same location as the
original nest |
| End of Breeding Season |
At the end of the breeding
season I separate the cocks from the hens until the next breeding
season. |
|
Myths |
Many authors refer to the Jacarini as
"secretive" "shy" "you never see them as they are always
hiding"....the list goes on.
From my personal experiences I have found the Jacarini to be a very
friendly bird to have in my aviary. |
