Cage & Aviary Birds

Cage & Aviary Birds is written by bird experts for bird fanciers and is packed with club, show and bird related news, advice, birds for sale and comment. Established in 1902, Cage & Aviary Birds provides a wealth of practical advice and tips from the top names in the bird world, plus opinion, controversy, species and hobbyist profiles and nostalgia.

Almost a clean sweep for Jason Jermy at 100% Softbills Exhibition

Juvenile flamingo escapes from zoo

QUOTE of the WEEK

Also in the news…

Big wins at Maggy Bates memorial show

Show winners

Slender-billed curlew confirmed as extinct

Research sheds light on reed warbler migration

Park Life with Chris Green

Geoff Capes in their own words • Many of the great man’s friends in the budgerigar fancy have paid their tribute in public since he passed away on October 23. GHALIB AL-NASSER has compiled this personal selection

Cage & Aviary Birds

How to win at the outcrossing game • With the restrictions on EU imports, it’s more important than ever to secure an accessible and reliable source of stock that’s better than yours. DAVE BROWN explains his approach

Tropical Birdland: a visitor review • Not large enough to be daunting, but stocked with a splendid diversity of parrots and other eye-catching species, this Leicestershire park is a longtime favourite with ROSEMARY LOW

The helpful rocker • Starting with its elaborate co-operative nesting arrangements, the green wood hoopoe abounds in characterful and downright zany behaviour. BILL NAYLOR is a long-time fan

Flushed with colour • People’s faces go red with anger or pink with sexual attraction (or sometimes it could be embarrassment). With birds, ‘blushing’ goes far beyond our few simple alternatives, to embrace all kinds of purposeful but temporary colour changes. PAUL DONOVAN reports

The unsuspected network • What is the burrowing parrot famous for? The answer ought to be: being the bird that keeps a vast habitat healthy. Yet the truth is only now being discovered, as DAVID WAUGH relates

A judging challenge and privilege • In at the climax of the 2024 zebra finch show season, DAVE BROWN had his judging hat on for the ZFS club show and enjoyed a fascinating day of closely matched quality in depth

Breeding plans and prospects for 2025 • These days TONY EDWARDS has a firm ambition to strengthen his colours over the full spectrum. And this guarantees one thing: that the next breeding season will be eventful!

Club News • Welcome to the club and show pages − the bit that’s all about you

OPEN SHOWS DECEMBER 2024-JANUARY 2025

Round table: bird breeding, supplements, diet & nesting

Club roundup • Show reports, dates, club notices

What’s on this week • Club meetings nationwide Includes sales held by clubs to benefit their members. For other sales, please book an advert