This beautiful bird is a little larger in size, and somewhat inferior in song to the Indigo Finch, but what it lacks in song it makes up in the richness and variety of its plumage. The male is elegantly marked with vermilion, blue, yellow and green. They are very docile, and both male and female, when in full feather, are lovely cage birds. The male has a sweet note, it bears some resemblance to the Indigo, but is weaker and more concise. The planters on the Mississippi breed them in their aviaries, and I think they might be raised here; but they require more care in winter than any of our Finches, as they are very susceptible of cold. They have been crossed with the Canary here, and make a beautiful variety.

Food

I have kept them in good health and fine plumage on a mixture of Canary and one third hemp seed, and a bit of ripe apple occasionally, of which they are very fond.

Characteristics Of The Sexes

The male of this bird is easily distinguished, dressed in his gaudy colors; the female is of an olive green above, lower parts of a dusky straw color, cheeks and neck tinged with green.

Location

Found, in the summer, in Louisiana, the Carolinas, and on the Mississippi; in the autumn, they migrate south.