The Silver Diamond Firetail Barely Even Looks Real

Meet the silver diamond firetail, a rare variety of native Australian finch that looks like a Christmas angel with flames spilling from beneath its robes. Only the most experienced breeders can reliably produce this variety of the diamond firetail (Stagonopleura guttata), selecting parents that carry the recessive genes that give rise to this almost pearlescent plumage.

Ambient temperatures should not be allowed to go below 54°F or 12°C. Some source of heat may need to be provided during cold spells. Nesting Diamond Sparrows should not be disturbed as they are quick to abandon an active nest. Since they spend a lot of time on the ground, their enclosure should include a large, open floor space that is easy to keep clean. In the wild, Diamond Firetails construct an elaborate bottle-shaped dome nest with an outer shell of green grasses and a small woven entrance funnel on the front. The males generally gather the nest materials and females do all the weaving. Some Diamond Sparrows - particularly those that were raised (fostered) by other finches - may accept large wicker or wire baskets, gourds, logs, wire cylinders, finch nest boxes or half open nest boxes for nesting. They generally favor nestboxes in which they can hide in. Diamond Firetails also like to roost in their nests at night. Others prefer to construct their own nests. They will use whatever they find in their environment to get the job done - including long grass strips (about 8 - 10 inches is ideal), coco fiber, shredded paper, dried grasses, sisal, cotton wool, strings, fur, plant matter, twigs, tissue paper and feathers (for lining). In a pinch, they may demolish the wicker baskets of other finches to construct their own nests with. In order to prevent this from happening, it's important to provide a large volume of nesting material at all times. Once completed, their nests often resemble domes or footballs.