Cut-throat Finch

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Amadina fasciata

The Cut-throat Finch is a common, though inconspicuous, inhabitant of Africa’s savannas and open woodlands, occurring in a band through the Sahel from Senegal to Ethiopia and thence southwards to South Africa, where they are to be found in Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Gauteng and parts of the North West Province. Given its wide distribution and relative abundance, the IUCN considers the Cut-throat Finch to be of least concern though sadly these birds are targeted by the cagebird trade. Seeds and termites form the majority of this finch’s diet – they are subject to nomadic movements in response to the rains and resultant increase in their favourite foods through their range. They require access to reliable water sources.

These small finches; they weigh only about 18g, are found in pairs or small flocks, often associating with other small seed-eating birds. In the breeding season, which spans the summer and autumn months, monogamous Cut-throat Finch pairs use the abandoned nests of other birds, especially weavers, to nest in, laying clutches of 2-7 eggs that hatch after a two-week long incubation period in which both parents take part. The chicks leave the nest about 3 weeks after hatching.

Hybrids between the Cut-throat Finch and the closely-related Red-headed Finch has been recorded in areas where their distribution overlaps.

Cut-throat Finch female
Cut-throat Finch male
Cut-throat Finch female
Cut-throat Finch pair – the male on the right
Cut-throat Finch female
Cut-throat Finch female
Cut-throat Finch female
Cut-throat Finch male
Cut-throat Finch female
Cut-throat Finch pair
Cut-throat Finch male
Cut-throat Finch male
Cut-throat Finch

29 thoughts on “Cut-throat Finch”

    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      Thank you very much, Sylvia! Indeed, one can almost imagine other little birds scaring their babies into behaving with scary stories of old “Cutthroat Finch”!

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    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      Baie dankie, Abrie, vir die gawe woorde en ook die besorgdheid. Joubert doen goed en gelukkig bied sy skool n e-leer opsie vir hoe risiko leerlinge so hy raak nie agter met die skoolwerk nie.

      Hoe gaan dit met jul gesin en spesifiek jou vrou?

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      1. Abrie Joubert

        My oudste dogter het pas haar eerste aanlyn eksamen reeks voltooi en dink dit het goed gegaan. My ander dogter (graad 11) gaan Maandag terug skool toe – sal sien hoe dit verloop. My vrou is baie moeg in aande. Sy toets nou gereeld werknemers met Covid 19 simptome. Op ‘n stadium ie mens na 14 dae weer getoets indien jy positief was. Daar word egter nou te veel mense getoets (nie genoeg testing kits nie). Indien positief word hulle nie weer getoets na 14 dae nie maar hulle bly by die huis tot dag 19

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    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      I couldn’t agree with you more, Carol. I don’t think the people eventually purchasing the birds from a store has any idea how many, many more perished due to them supporting that trade.

      Liked by 1 person

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  8. BETH

    Poor timing for me. I just read an account of a murder and then came across this title. WOW!
    Not only that, but my maiden name is Finch. Hey, it’s not even Halloween.

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