Bulbul paired up with finch

[Diveks]

Hello I would like to share something interesting that is happening in my aviary. A month ago i started seeing my female sooty headed bulbul cuddling up against my male gouldian finch. I didn't think much of it at the time cause I just thought "maybe they just like eachothers company". Well a week ago I found bulbul eggs inside my nestbox with the male gouldian, turns out they are both taking turns incubating them. It looks kind of funny as the finch is smaller than the eggs. I would expect this more with a younger male, this male raised 6 chicks last year. its a bit of a bummer I won't get any chicks from him this year though, his mate from last year is left alone. maybe never if they decide that they want to continue their relationship beyond this season. I'm thinking of just leaving the eggs in there until they give up. .

 

[expressmailtome]

That is interesting.

 

[Emma&pico]

They are so cute odd little couple I know nothing about finches will the eggs hatched and babies be ok or is it a big no no sorry if that sounds like a daft question

 

[SumitaSinh]

Following this thread

 

[Zara]

Very curious he would leave his successful mating partner for such a different species. Certainly interesting!

 

[SumitaSinh]

Are the eggs fertile?

 

[Diveks]

They are so cute odd little couple I know nothing about finches will the eggs hatched and babies be ok or is it a big no no sorry if that sounds like a daft question

Are the eggs fertile?

i think because they are not related at all it shouldn't be. i will try to take a picture of them together or the nest tho!

Very curious he would leave his successful mating partner for such a different species. Certainly interesting!

yes exactly what i thought, they've successfully raised two clutches. and they usually come back to the same mating partner every season so that was surprising.

 

[Diveks]

got a pic of the eggs, had to let them go out to eat of course. I can’t really get a pic of them on the nest though but it is for sure the bulbul’s as there are only canaries and finches in here.

Now I wonder if not getting her a mate might not be the best idea. She was a hand raised bulbul that I got from someone as a single bird, was not planning on breeding her hence the lack of a male.

i see the male gouldian go back and fourth when they were building it, thought he was just preparing for another season with his last mate

 

[Zara]

Beautiful eggs

 

[SumitaSinh]

got a pic of the eggs, had to let them go out to eat of course. I can’t really get a pic of them on the nest though but it is for sure the bulbul’s as there are only canaries and finches in here.

Now I wonder if not getting her a mate might not be the best idea. She was a hand raised bulbul that I got from someone as a single bird, was not planning on breeding her hence the lack of a male.

i see the male gouldian go back and fourth when they were building it, thought he was just preparing for another season with his last mate
View attachment 434158

Yeah these are bulbul eggs. They build nest in our garden, I can identify the eggs. Your bulbul must has become hormonal after her affair with gouldian finch fiance

 

[Diveks]

Beautiful eggs

Yeah these are bulbul eggs. They build nest in our garden, I can identify the eggs. Your bulbul must has become hormonal after her affair with gouldian finch fiance

Thank you! Heres the “pair” siting together on a branch. They usually fly around the aviary together.
Unfortunately I will have to put her into a segmented part of the aviary for a bit as a timeout, because she has a nest now she has been bothering the other courting birds. Whenever they sing, while she doesn’t attack them she screams at them and pushes them out of the way. Thought not getting her a male would solve that but i guess i was wrong. Anyways, here are more pics of the other softbills if anyone would like to see them! Some courting, some still in growing in feathers for the season.