Bicheno Owl - Australian Grassfinch

Scientific Name: Poephila bichenovii

Hen (top)

Cock (front

Size: 4 “   Song: Male has google song - kitten call

Cock

Sexing:  The cock and hen look alike. Owls are very hard to visually sex. Surest way is to listen for the males google song , male sings - female doesn’t, or the hen’s laying of eggs. Both have a short kitten call. Double bars on chest may be wider on male than female, black forehead wider on male than female, but neither of these tips are 100%.

Bicheno Owls are active, curious, and very fast flyers. They love to bath and cuddle together. Although the song can  hardly  be called musical their personalities will delight you. I enjoy my flock of Owls tremendously.

Diet: Finch seed mix, greens, vegetables, fruit, soak seed and sprouts, boiled egg, softfood supplements.  Free choice grit and cuttlebone. Live insects (small mealworms, crickets, wax worms) are enjoyed as a treat. Feed a good quality rearing softfood and boiled egg during chick rearing.

Breeding: Enclosed wicker nest, open nest, or nest box.

Building materials: Dried grasses, coconut fiber, sisal,

nest lined with feathers, sharpi cotton.

Eggs: 4 - 6 small white.  Incubate: 14 days.

Fledge: 16 - 18 days. Fledglings are a duller coloring than adults.