The chestnut-flanked white zebra finch is very popular, with outstanding specimens to be admired on the show benches every year. Yet to breed these birds means to aim at a contradiction: you’re trying for birds that combine fullness of pigment with the absence of pigment! It’s not as mad as it sounds, thankfully, and the CFW provides a terrific challenge for ambitious breeders. That’s why it’s our cover bird this week! Across in the budgie world we hear how breeders really ought to take a leaf out of canary fanciers’ books (yes, really). And in Canaryland we are updated on Borders, Lizards and Yorkies. Bonus ball is a tasteful summary of how a bird’s digestion works: not to be missed!

The chestnut-flanked white zebra finch is very popular, with outstanding specimens to be admired on the show benches every year. Yet to breed these birds means to aim at a contradiction: you’re trying for birds that combine fullness of pigment with the absence of pigment! It’s not as mad as it sounds, thankfully, and the CFW provides a terrific ....