The Strawberry Finch

Nature 2 Minutes

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.

However, there are introduced populations of the strawberry finches that 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

SOURCE: kidadl

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Published by pat frederick

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116 thoughts on “The Strawberry Finch”

  1. Morning All!
    warmer outside this morning–already 73*. not special for August at all, but special for this summer in particular. we were discussing yesterday, it’s been a cooler and wetter summer than i remember here.
    we had a wonderful visit yesterday, laughing and telling stories. it’s been a while.
    the whole house has been cleaned top to bottom in anticipation of their visit, so I told hubby I’m not cleaning for weeks…LOL

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Morning, Pat! 73 here as well but sooooo humid – it’s dripping down the screens on the patio. Super foggy this morning, like the proverbial pea soup! The weather report has lowered the 100+ days to Tuesday-Thursday, thankfully – Friday’s highs predicted to only be in the 80’s and the 70’s by the week-end – low 90’s next week! Until then, we’re looking at several days of 100+ temps – it will be higher to the south and east. GT was waiting for breakfast and I’m keeping fresh water out there, too, with ice cubes added thru the day.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Morning filly!it has clouded over here at the moment. last night was rain free for the first time in over a week!
        you are such a good host…I hope GT appreciates it!

        Liked by 1 person

  9. more reliable sources leaking “news” from jackass smith’s investigation…
    FTA
    This story is based on unidentified “sources familiar with the matter” just like all the stories we used to hear related to “Russian collusion,” which turned out to be completely fictitious. All those unidentified “sources familiar with the matter” turned out to be liars (if they were even real), but we couldn’t know who they were, because they got to hide behind anonymity.

    From an article out yesterday:

    Appearing to contradict former President Donald Trump’s primary public defense in the classified documents case, former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows has told special counsel Jack Smith’s investigators that he could not recall Trump ever ordering, or even discussing, declassifying broad sets of classified materials before leaving the White House, nor was he aware of any ‘standing order’ from Trump authorizing the automatic declassification of materials taken out of the Oval Office, sources familiar with the matter tell ABC News.

    https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2023/08/jack_smiths_office_leaks_like_a_sieve_with_anonymous_sources__or_they_just_dont_exist.html

    Like

  15. Troublemaker10
    August 21, 2023 10:18 am

    NOVA Campaigns
    @NoVA_Campaigns

    The US Government, FBI, MPD,@USAO_DC
    are hiding 90 pages of text messages between the Proud Boys and an UC
    @DCPoliceDept
    Officer who infiltrated Proud Boys & used your taxes 💵 to buy PB gear FBI used his info… the public can’t see it This is just 1 person How many more?

    The US Government, FBI, MPD, @USAO_DC are hiding 90 pages of text messages between the Proud Boys and an UC @DCPoliceDept Officer who infiltrated Proud Boys & used your taxes 💵 to buy PB gear

    FBI used his info… the public can’t see it

    This is just 1 person

    How many more? https://t.co/owURKkbtk3

    — NOVA Campaigns (@NoVA_Campaigns) August 21, 2023

    Like

    1. Julie Kelly 🇺🇸
      @julie_kelly2

      DOJ also concealed hundreds of messages btw FBI case agents including some that discussed destroying evidence
      9:39 AM · Aug 21, 2023

      DOJ also concealed hundreds of messages btw FBI case agents including some that discussed destroying evidence

      — Julie Kelly 🇺🇸 (@julie_kelly2) August 21, 2023

      Like

      1. 🇺🇸 Profile picture
        🇺🇸
        @FreeStateWill
        1h • 15 tweets • 7 min read Twitter logo Read on Twitter
        I have filed a motion to compel the government to produce all materials related to undercover police at the Capitol on January 6, and to produce missing police body camera recordings. This motion presents new evidence of illicit behavior by undercover police at the Capitol. Image
        Police bodycams are important to January 6 defenses because they reveal real-time candid assessments.

        My motion includes an exhibit of Officer Joseph Young’s recording that captures Officer Pittmon assessing that police had “fucked this shit all the way up.”

        Another exhibit features footage from Officer Matthew Fleming that shows officers being ordered by their supervisors to let protestors have access to the west terrace door. Afterwards, an officer in the unit says, “I can’t believe they let them in”

        Like

        1. Last November I filed a motion pointing out undercover police urged J6 protestors to advance up the steps to the Capitol. The government finally produced two of Leiva’s recordings in April.

          The footage is completely black for 5 minutes as Leiva and Callahan walked up the steps. Image
          Not only did Officer Tomasula urge protestors to advance up the steps to the Capitol, he also infiltrated the Proud Boys in December 2020, used department funds to buy Proud Boys gear, and passed intel to the FBI. The government is hiding 90 fully redacted pages of text messages between Tomasula and the Proud Boys.
          A recently disclosed MPD internal investigation revealed that Detective Ricardo Leiva observed people breaking glass windows at the Capitol, and ran up to them saying, “hey what’s up man, you’re doing an amazing job, awesome awesome awesome.”

          Leiva claims he recorded this, but the recording has not been produced in discovery.
          Detective Callahan was also recording on J6, but MPD claims he did not have a recording device with him on J6, even though video clearly shows him holding a cell phone. No footage has been produced for Callahan. Image
          Undercover officer Ryan Roe noted that he was using a Canon XA40 to film on January 6. Thanks to a viral thread that shows a man holding the same model of camera, I have been able to identify Roe in the crowd. Image
          By synchronizing sealed footage from @Twinity5’s January 7, 2021 viral thread, I discovered that undercover officer Ryan Roe thanked #FenceCutterBulwark as he removed fencing. “Appreciate it brother,” said Roe, as Twinity5 captured this frame.

          Like

  16. more of the above thread

    There was also a team of undercover officers positioned above the west front lines, filming the action below. These officers would go into the Capitol, and at the end of the day they filmed curfew arrests. However, the government has not produced everything they recorded. Several new bodycam exhibits from my filing show these officers.

    Undercover police also filmed curfew arrests outside hotels on the night of January 6. The government has designated all video recorded by undercover officers as “sensitive” to prevent public release, but bodycam footage showing the same arrest scene is not considered sensitive.

    Like

    1. There was also a team of undercover officers positioned above the west front lines, filming the action below. These officers would go into the Capitol, and at the end of the day they filmed curfew arrests. However, the government has not produced everything they recorded. Several new bodycam exhibits from my filing show these officers.

      Undercover police also filmed curfew arrests outside hotels on the night of January 6. The government has designated all video recorded by undercover officers as “sensitive” to prevent public release, but bodycam footage showing the same arrest scene is not considered sensitive.

      Like

      1. The second gap in McAllister’s footage occurred in the tunnel as he and Lt. Bagshaw were beating the defenseless Victoria White in the head.

        For both gaps, McAllister’s camera did not beep (as normal) when the recording resumed less than a minute later.

        Like

        1. You can access a PDF copy of my full motion here: dropbox.com/scl/fi/wf6dai7…
          Image
          139 – Motion to Compel Production of Undercover Police Materials and Police Bodycam Recordings.pdf
          Shared with Dropbox
          https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/wf6dai7qanlsaln9oevfo/139-Motion-to-Compel-Production-of-Undercover-Police-Materials-and-Police-Bodycam-Recordings.pdf?rlkey=ozfg0pjxu931l1dod1b5p2cnm&dl=0
          You can access the 27 public video exhibits from my motion here:

          Two additional exhibits contain footage designated as ‘sensitive’ by the government and were submitted under seal (not public).

          Like

  19. Liked by 1 person

  24. parents much have been threatening to withdraw their kids from college…
    FTA
    Buffalo’s state university abruptly decided to kick out dozens of illegal immigrants from its dorms this weekend after parents sounded the alarm over student safety in light of two alleged sexual assaults involving migrants.

    The State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo is evicting 44 migrants following a sudden decision to cancel an agreement with a local community group that placed them in the dorms.

    “As we are welcoming our students back to campus Tuesday, we wanted to ensure the best possible learning environment for our students and smooth functioning of our university operations,” Buffalo State President Bonita Durand said in a statement.

    https://www.dailywire.com/news/suny-buffalo-boots-illegal-immigrants-from-dorms-after-parents-express-concerns-about-recent-sexual-assaults

    Liked by 1 person

  25. WTH???

    Liked by 1 person

  28. Sherri Young
    Sherri Young
    August 21, 2023 1:45 pm

    Horrible.

    “A migrant man accused of the heinous rape and murder of an 11-year-old Texas girl was captured in Louisiana one week after the grisly killing…

    “…Garcia-Rodriguez – a Guatemalan national – reportedly crossed the U.S. southern border illegally in January. He allegedly surrendered to U.S. Customs and Border Protection in El Paso, Texas. However, he was released to immigration sponsors in the Baton Rouge area of Louisiana. Pasadena Police Chief Josh Bruegger said attempts to contact the sponsors had been unsuccessful.”

    Of course not.

    https://www.theblaze.com/news/migrant-arrested-rape-murder-pasadena-girl

    Like

  29. YIKES!!

    G-Pol
    August 21, 2023 4:05 pm

    Commercial airlines in the US racked up staggering 46 ‘close calls’ in last month alone – with one American Airlines flight to Dallas traveling at 500mph forced into abrupt 700ft climb to avoid United plane
    
    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12428909/Commercial-airlines-racked-staggering-46-close-calls-month-one-American-Airlines-flight-Dallas-traveling-500mph-forced-abrupt-700ft-climb-avoid-United-plane.html

    Liked by 1 person

        1. “Specifically, the cruising speed of commercial airliners is typically around 550-600 mph, or Mach 0.85. Takeoff and landing speeds are much slower, typically between 130-180 mph, depending on the aircraft and weather conditions. The landing speed of a commercial airliner can be around 160-180 mph, while the takeoff speed can be around 130-160 mph.”

          https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/how-fast-do-planes-actually-fly-exploring-airplane-speeds

          Liked by 1 person

  30. Mark R. Levin
    @marklevinshow
    Hunter Biden should be in prison, Joe Biden should be in prison, Hillary Clinton should be in prison. Jack Smith should’ve been disbarred for his past unethical (and worse) abuses of prosecutorial power. Eric Holder was never held to account for arming the Mexican drug cartels. James Comey was never held to account for his efforts to sabotage the incoming Trump administration. Nancy Pelosi attempted multiple coups against Trump, including two phony impeachments and the January 6 Stalinist committee. In 2016, congressional Democrats objected to counting all the electors on the House floor in an attempt to overturn the presidential election and install Hillary. The corrupt Democrat Party-media assisted these thugs every step of the way (Russia collusion and all the rest). The DA in Manhattan is a lapdog for George Soros. The DA in Fulton County, GA, whose father was part of the violent Black Panther movement, is a Democrat hack. And these are but a few of the ruling-class thugs who make up the cabal trying to imprison Trump.

    Liked by 1 person

  31. sunrei
    August 21, 2023 4:54 pm

    Georgia Judge has set the terms for President Trump’s bail and release.

    The terms include a prohibition from communicating with or intimidating any unindicted co-conspirators or any victims. Huh? who are these mystery people he can’t communicate with or intimidate???

    Is there an official public list of who are unindicted co-conspirators? And who are the “victims” he must not intimidate –the entire U.S. population?

    Here’s an excerpt of the judge’s release terms:

    ” . . . The intimidation restrictions specify that Trump will not make a direct or indirect threat against co-defendants, witnesses, unindicted co-conspirators or victims, including “posts on social media or reposts of posts made by another individual on social media.”
    .
    https://dailycaller.com/2023/08/21/judge-donald-trump-bail/

    Liked by 1 person




  32. “Bioluminescence is the production and emission of light by living organisms. A form of marine plankton, known as bioluminescent dinoflagellates, are the source of the light on the incoming waves. Pretty cool shot of the Milky Way, also.”

    Liked by 1 person

  34. I am adding a short daily prayer to the board. I would invite each of you, if you wish, to also add one or maybe two of your own liking. I do not want to stifle anyone but please limit yourself to one or two religious postings. here’s one I found that I liked.

    Like

            1. oh thanks kea!
              i will have to do an open about them in September…they’re gorgeous!!!
              australian hunh? there a story in there we won’t hear about…LOL

              Liked by 1 person

  49. Well damn LOL

    Italian high society in shock as millionaire banker throws ultra exclusive engagement party at Turin villa – only to make accusations against fiancée in his speech
    Millionaire banker Massimo Segre accused his fiancee of cheating on him in front of distinguished guests

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-12393843/Italian-high-society-shock-millionaire-banker-throws-ultra-exclusive-engagement-party-Turin-villa-make-accusations-against-fianc-e-speech.html

    Liked by 1 person

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