Shaft-tail Finch - Poephila acuticauda Heck's Shaft-tail
(Poephila acuticauda hecki) Red-billed subspecies.  Common Names
Long-tailed Grassfinch, Heck's shaft-tail, Black Heart finch
Shaft-tails can be difficult to sex. Males and females are
nearly identical in appearance. When placed side-by-side, the
male's throat bib will appear a bit wider and triangular than
the female's. (Photo - the female is on the left, male on the
right) The male may also have a cleaner gray on the head and the
flank stripe is said to be thicker as well. The male also has a
rather high-pitched song that accompanies a hopping sort of
dance. The head bobbing that is seen in both sexes is more often
seen performed by the male.  A standard finch mix will be fine
with Shaft-tail finches. They eagerly take egg food (Roy's egg
food), greens and soaked millet. Grit and calcium in the form of
crushed egg and oyster shells and cuttlebone should always be
available to them.  Breeder's Notes The Shaft-tail can be
considered an eager breeder if