Diamond firetail facts for kids

The diamond firetail (Stagonopleura guttata) is a beautiful little finch that lives only in Australia. It's known for its bright colors and unique look.

Quick facts for kids Diamond firetail
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Genus:	Stagonopleura
Species:	guttata

What Does It Look Like?

The diamond firetail is a small finch. It has a bright red beak, red eyes, and a red patch on its lower back. Below its throat, there's a thick black band. This band goes across its chest to its wings. The lower parts of its wings are also black with white spots. A black stripe runs from its beak to its eye. Its tail is black too. The rest of its wings are a light tan or brown. Its head and back are light grey. Its belly and chin are white. The eggs it lays are also white. This bird is one of the smallest finches around.

Its Song

The male diamond firetail has a special song. It sounds a bit low and raspy. When singing, the male holds a piece of dried grass in its mouth. It hops up and down on a branch while making its call.

How It Behaves

Diamond firetails can be a bit aggressive towards other birds. They might even harm weaker birds. Because of this, if you keep them in a bird cage or aviary, it's best to keep them with other types of finches.

Making a Family

Both the male and female diamond firetail help build their nest. However, only the female does the actual weaving. They prefer to build their own nests rather than use ones made for them. They use materials like coconut fibers, shredded paper, dried grass, and feathers.

In the wild, diamond firetails usually breed from September to April. They also breed from August to January. As mentioned, the male tries to get the female's attention. He does this by holding a piece of dead grass. He sings and bobs up and down. They usually breed in a quiet, hidden spot close to the ground.

After breeding, the female lays about four to six white eggs. Both parents take turns sitting on the eggs for about 14 days. This is called incubation. About 21 days after the chicks hatch, they leave the nest. Around 21 days after that, they learn to fly. Both the male and female feed their young. Female diamond firetails can start breeding when they are 9 to 12 months old. It's best if they are paired up when they are young. These birds usually live for about 5 to 7 years.

What It Eats

In the wild, diamond firetails eat ripe or partly ripe fruits. They also enjoy the seeds from these fruits. They also eat some insects and their tiny young, called larvae. These birds spend a lot of time on the ground. They look for seeds and insects to eat there.

Where It Lives

This finch lives in eastern Australia. You can find it from the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia. It also lives up to south-eastern Queensland. They often live on the slopes of the Great Dividing Range. These birds make their homes in eucalypt forests and woodlands. They also live in mallee country, farmlands, and grasslands.

Important Bird Areas

BirdLife International has found several places that are very important for protecting diamond firetails. These areas help make sure these birds have safe homes.

Its Conservation Status

The IUCN keeps track of how many animals are left. They used to say the diamond firetail was "near threatened." This meant its numbers were getting low. But in 2016, they changed its status to "least concern." This is good news! It means their population isn't declining as fast anymore.

However, their homes are still at risk. Things like too much grazing by animals, weeds taking over, and salty soil can change their habitat. When their food plants and homes are lost, they have to compete with other animals. They also face more danger from predators.

Keeping Them as Pets

Aviculture is the hobby of keeping and breeding birds. Diamond firetails can be kept in aviaries.

Different Kinds

There are not many different types of diamond firetails. But one special kind has an orange tail instead of red. This bird is called the yellow diamond. Other types include the pied diamond, which has white patches. There's also the white diamond and the fawn diamond.

What to Feed Them

If you keep diamond firetails, you can feed them many things. They enjoy lettuce, spinach, and chickweed. They also like spray millet, eggfood, and broccoli tops. Sprouted seeds, meal worms, small cockroaches, and small crickets are also good for them. You can also give them hulled oats and carrot tops.

Images for kids

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  Lewin- spotted grossbeak 1819

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  Stagonopleura guttata, John Gerrard Keulemans, 1873

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  Diamond firetail feeding

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  Auburn Botanical Gardens, NSW

See also

In Spanish: Stagonopleura guttata para niños