The Diamond Firetail finch is an extremely attractive Australian finch. With its highly contrasting and distinctive markings it is a visually impressive bird which also has an elegance both when perching as well as in flight.

They are difficult to sex although our local stockist maintains that there is a visible difference in the shape of the eye - the male being round whilst the female is oval. Other sources say that the female has paler lores and a thinner black breast band.

Ours have proved hardy though none has survived beyond 2 years and no pair has mated as far as we know. At various times we have had them nest and become very attentive to their nests for long periods but so far we have seen neither eggs nor chicks. They nest in standard finch nest boxes at the top of the aviary and then become territorial. It may be that they haven't bred because of the close attentions of zebra finches once they have settled on a box.

They do not roost in shrubs or bushes, prefering either stripped branches or nest-box perches. They spend the night in a nest-box.

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