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.

Blue-crowned laughingthrush chick success at Blackpool

Paint-by-numbers: ZSL get the Guinness World Record

QUOTE of the WEEK

Also in the news…

European rollers may be adapting to extreme weather

Artificial light found to disrupt sparrow behaviour

Vote opens for wildlife on UK banknotes

Park Life

Stafford MP supports the fancy

THE CANARY COLUMN

Editor’s Letter

Cage & Aviary Birds

Gail Harland’s WATERBIRDS

Show prep Q&A • ‘May the best bird win’ - well, it usually stands a chance, but the best prepared bird will always be in the running. DAVE BROWN answers a reader query with a run-through of what every competitor should do in the build-up to an event, whatever variety they show

Inside, outside, up and down with greenfinches • With some quality stock in the breeding cages, Andy’s looking to progress with his greenies this year. And some of them have the same idea, but others have their head in the clouds

Northumbrian Notes • There are birds that are still in Austin’s dreams but never came out into the light of day. This month he looks back over some of the pairs and breedings he’d most love to have succeeded with… before his thoughts return to one of his favourite colours – black!

Plans for the summer • TONY EDWARDS has reached the stage where this breeding season is about specific refinements. Here he talks us through the pairings that he hopes will meet these objectives

Q&A: moult in canaries • Every year, after our canaries finish breeding, they naturally replace most of their feathers. DAVE BROWN advises on how best to coax them through this delicate period

My journey with budgies: Part 6 • As NEIL CAWLEY’s breeding results improved, he made sure to continue the campaign against mite - and that led to the arrival of wire, plastic and aluminium in his set-up

Colour-feeding your Lizards • Are your youngsters getting their Carophyll yet? If not, you need to get your skates on, advises DAVID ALLEN

When April becomes May • This April became May with a temperature crash, reports Dave, ruefully summarising the first-round results in his mixed collection. But birdkeeping, is full of second chances and he’s already seeing new results

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

SPOTLIGHT ON… • We invite fanciers to look back at their 2025 show-bench success and, in their own words and pictures, share their proudest moments from that year. THIS WEEK: novice fancier GEORGE LOINES from Wombourne, Staffordshire

Club roundup • Show reports, dates, club notices

Obituary

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

Young bird placings explained by Simon Gage