Birds have been kept in cages for thousands of years. Alexander the Great is reputed to have taken Rose-ringed Parakeets to Greece in the 4th century BC. In Roman times wealthy citizens kept these para keets in cages made of ivory and silver and slaves were made respons ible for their care. More recently the same species were kept by Indian princes in splendid large aviaries looked after by special attendants.

Rose-ringed Parakeets are the most widely distributed parrots in the world, ranging over Africa and Asia. In the southeast of England escaped birds have become established as a feral species and can now be regarded as our only native breeding parrot. They are well represented on stamps, for example by Ghana on a 4c. stamp of 1981 (SG 942) and Cuba, on one of a set of 14 values devoted to parrots, issued in 2005.

Pigeons and doves

Historical records show that pigeons were the fi rst birds to be domesticated, as long ago as 2600 BC, probably for use in religious ceremonies. In more recent times they have been kept for food, carrying messages in wartime, racing and simply for pleasure. As their diet consists mainly of seed and grain they are easy to cater for. Modern large aviaries often contain some of the smaller pigeons, such as the Diamond Dove of Australia, the Namaqua Dove of southern Africa and the Laughing Dove of Africa and Asia. The Diamond Dove is one of the smallest of all pigeons, about the size of a Skylark with a long pointed tail.

A captive bred Diamond Dove appears on a $2 stamp of St Vincent, issued in a set entitled ‘The Wonderful World of Birds’ (4720). The Namaqua Dove and Laughing Dove are on Botswana 80t. and 3p.90 values respectively, issued in 2005. Most members of the pigeon family spend a lot of time on the ground, a useful habit in aviaries where the fl oor space is often under-utilised. Another ground feeder is the Zebra Dove of the Malay Peninsula, Indonesia and Australia. Two of these Doves feeding on the ground can be seen on the Malaysia $1 defi nitive of 1965 (24).

The section on pigeons would not be complete without reference to the Barbary Dove, a domesticated form of the African Collared Dove, familiar in English gardens. Records show that they were already known as cage birds in Europe early in the 18th century; now they are kept pretty well throughout the world. There is only one example of a Barbary Dove on stamps and that is a tentative identifi cation. In 1989 St Vincent brought out a set of three stamps with designs by Hiroshige, the eminent Japanese artist, who produced many pictures in the Birds and Flowers genre. The $3 value shows a pale, creamy dove generally accepted to be a Barbary Dove. The painting is entitled Yellow Bird and Cotton Rose and this is inscribed on the stamp (1255).

Also useful for mixing with other species in aviaries are quails, small, plump members of the pheasant family. Like pigeons they are easy to feed with a preference for seeds and leaves and they spend nearly all the time on the ground. The Malawi 8t. of 1975 (477) and Botswana 20t. of 1997 (855), both show a Harlequin Quail (an aviary favourite) and the 3t. in the Malawi set pictures an Indian Blue Quail. This quail can also be seen on a 30c. stamp of Malaysia issued in 2000 (995), a nice portrait of a pair by a nest with eggs. The USA 1982 State Birds and Flowers set includes a California Quail, a portrait by Arthur Singer, the distinguished American bird artist, who painted all 50 birds in the set (1934).

Budgerigars and Cockatiels

First brought to Europe from Australia by John Gould, the notable British ornithologist and artist, the Budgerigar has become the world’s favourite cage bird. They are found wild only in Australia, where fl ocks running into thousands may be seen, but there are almost certainly now more domestic birds than wild ones. Wild birds are mainly bright green with black and yellow patterns on head, nape and wing coverts. The tail is a greenish blue and there are touches of a brighter blue on the face. Intensive selective breeding has produced birds of many colours, most common being blues, yellows, greys and whites. Gould called them Warbling Grass Parakeets but their common English name comes from the Australian Aborigines who dubbed them ‘Betcherrygah’, which is a rendering of their calls. Apart from the beautiful colours which have been developed, their appeal lies in a vivacious manner and the ability to imitate sounds including the human voice (though not in the same league as the Grey Parrot or Hill Mynah).

Budgerigar stamps include a Netherlands Antilles 5c. of 1977 showing yellow and blue varieties and a New Zealand $1.80 of 1999, an odd pair, one white and blue the other yellow and green (2237). Apart from the Budgerigar, no member of the parrot family has been bred in confi nement in greater numbers than the Cockatiel. This species provides a link between the parrots and the cockatoos. They are larger than budgerigars, about a foot long including a long tail, with a similar history of domestication. They have been widely kept from 1840 onwards, becoming more popular towards the end of the 20th century thanks to the emergence of colour mutations. In the wild in Australia they are mainly grey and the males are attractively marked with lemon-yellow head and crest and bright orange cheeks. Ciskei 1993, 90c. (230) and North Korea 2003, 120w. both show aviary bred yellow varieties. A more normally coloured grey bird is on the 1z.25 in the cage bird set brought out by Poland in 2004 (4125).

Canaries

The fi rst genuine cage birds, that is those with a history of captive breeding, were canaries. All varieties are descended from wild birds fi rst imported to Europe during the 18th century from the Canary islands, Madeira and the Azores. In the wild they are greyish green with some yellow-green colouring on the breast and rump.

Centuries of selective breeding have produced the familiar yellow birds with a variety of forms and plumage patterns. Canaries are virtually the perfect cage birds, with a placid nature, hardiness, resistance to disease, beautiful plumage and a pleasant song. Perhaps most important of all they are easy to breed in aviaries. Stamp appearances include Cuba, seven values issued in 1968, illustrating various aspects of breeding (1568/74) and Macau 1995, 2p.50, a nice portrait of a yellow and white variety (902). In spite of their virtues, canaries have lost some of their popularity in recent years. This is probably due to the growth in favour of Budgerigars.

Parrots

Many other members of the parrot family are great favourites as pets. Parrots were fi rst brought to Europe in the 16th century by sailors returning from exotic parts. The fi rst to reach England are believed to have arrived in 1504. They make excellent pets, being long-lived, hardy and easy to feed. Some species can imitate the human voice remarkably well. Also in their favour is a disinclination to fl y, being happy to loaf about for long periods preening, chattering, feeding or doing nothing in particular. To their detriment they have loud, raucous voices and highly destructive beaks and therefore are not suitable for outdoor aviaries in suburban areas. One of the best known parrots in captivity, and one of the best talkers, is the African Grey, at home in the African rain forests. They are handsome, with dove grey plumage and contrasting scarlet tail. They are well represented on stamps; a realistic portrait with colours and posture just about right is on a 3c. stamp of Cuba issued in 1967, one of a set of 15 showing birds in Havana Zoo (1560a). Other acceptable portraits include Sierra Leone 1999, 20l. (3325), in a set of 20 values entitled ‘Beautiful Parrots and Parakeets if the World’.

Lovebirds are small parrots, short tailed, coloured mostly green, some with head and shoulders of different colours. They occur wild only in Africa and Madagascar. They are named because of their fondness for mutual preening, though it should be noted that two birds indulging in apparent intimacy may be the same sex. They are highly prized as cage birds being easy to breed, hardy and seemingly always cheerful. There are nine species, all of which have appeared on stamps. Seven of them can be seen on a set of six values and a miniature sheet issued by Laos in 1997. One of the most commonly kept in captivity, the Peach-faced Lovebird, is on the 800k. in the set (1555). Outstanding is the Black-collared Lovebird on the 10s. painted by Mrs Fennessey for the Uganda 1965 defi nitives (125).

Within the parrot family the cockatoos form a distinct group, some of which are great favourites. One of the best known is the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, which is easily tamed, quickly learns to talk and breeds readily in captivity. In 1981 Indonesia issued a set and a miniature sheet featuring three species of Cockatoos; Salmon-crested, Sulphur-crested and Palm (1639). All three portraits show the crests raised in the typical forward position. In 1991 Australia brought out a $1 value under the title ‘Domestic Pets’ which showed the head of a Sulphurcrested Cockatoo apparently cracking a nut in its powerful beak (1302). Another distinct group of parrots are the lories which include one of the most beautiful members of the whole family, the Rainbow Lory, native to Australia, New Guinea and adjacent islands. A miniature sheet issued by Vanuatu in 1999 shows a group of these brightly coloured birds (805) and a pair can be seen on the Australia 50c. of 2005 (2480).

Waxbills

The Old World seed eaters include a group known as waxbills, which comprise the single most important family to cage bird enthusiasts. Waxbills are typical cage birds, appealing for their bright colours, spritely liveliness and ready adaptability to confi nement. The name is derived from the translucent nature of their beaks, red in many cases, which gives a waxy appearance.

The Common waxbill of southern Africa has been introduced to many parts of the world. Very different portraits appear on the French Polynesia 65f. of 1981 (350) and St Helena 1983 33p and 1993 12p stamps (421 and 639). The St Helena portraits are more realistic than the French Polynesian one which shows a bird in an artificial pose.

Probably the most widely kept of the waxbills is the Spotted-sided Finch, known in the trade as the Zebra Finch. They occur wild in Australia and one is featured on the 1c. in the 1979 Australian set of 12 birds (669). Also in this set, on the 2c., is the Crimson Finch a near relative of the Zebra Finch (670). Both portraits are stylised, especially the nests, of which only the entrances of what should be elaborate bottle-shaped structures are sketched in. In 1996 Togo brought out a set of six values entitled ‘Oiseaux Exotique’ which included the Zebra Finch on the 150t. and on the 500t., a near relative, the Diamond Firetail, often known as the Diamond Sparrow. Another of the Australian Grass Finches, the Painted Firetail, very similar to the Diamond Firetail, can be seen on the Australia 45c. of 2001 (2127).

Perhaps the most beautiful member of the waxbill family is the Gouldian Finch, named by John Gould in memory of his wife. They occur wild in northern Australia and there are three different forms, black-headed, red-headed and, extremely rare, yellow-headed. The black-heads are three times as numerous as the reds. Their colouring is spectacular—a grass green back with pale blue rump, deep lilac breast shading to yellow and black tail, ending in two long fi ne points. These fi nches thrive only in a tropical environment and need a rich staple diet with a good ration of insects.

A pre-stamped envelope issued by Australia in 1978 shows all three head colours and a 45c. brought out by the same country in 1998 shows a group of three black-heads. The Togo 1996 set includes a miniature sheet featuring a red-head and a black-head. Another Gouldian Finch stamp appearance is Ciskei 1993, 1r.05, one of a cage bird set (231). Another beautiful member of the waxbill family is the Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu, a popular inhabitant of many aviaries. Their prime colouring is cornfl ower blue below with pale brown upper parts. Only the males have the red ear coverts from which their name is derived. A male can be seen on Gambia 1966, ½d., a good portrait with natural colouring (233). The Java Sparrow, a well known member of the waxbill family, is equally at home in a cage or aviary. They mix well with other birds, especially budgerigars, and if properly acclimatised will winter in England without artifi cial heat. Originally a native of Indonesia, they now occur wild in many countries thanks to escapees from captivity and artifi cial introductions. They live wild on the island of St Helena and two stamps from there feature them, a 1983 7p and a 1993 18p (419 and 641). Both stamp portraits bring out the attractive, contrasting colours—black head, chin and tail, white cheeks and large pink bill, with the rest of the body grey and pink.

Larger species

Almost any kind of bird can be kept in captivity but the larger species, like ornamental pheasants and macaws, require large aviaries. Various species of pheasants can be seen on sets issued by North Korea in 1976 (N1522/8) and by Laos in 1986 (908/14). The Laos designs were taken from those by Arthur Singer in Birds of the World. The most spectacular pheasant of all, the Common Peafowl, has been featured frequently on stamps, usually showing the magnifi cent display of the Peacock. This is one of the most striking sights in the natural world. Examples appear on India 1973, 2r. (703—with rather bizarre colouring) and three values issued in Taiwan in 1991 (2021).

Eight species of Macaws can be seen on a set brought out by Bolivia in 1980. All the portraits were based on those by William T Cooper in Forshaw’s Parrots of the World. William Cooper is pre-eminent as a painter of parrots. The colouring of the stamps is poor compared with the beauty of the originals and the backgrounds have been removed. The effect is further spoilt because the birds are reproduced on too small a scale (1055). Bird keeping as a hobby seems to have arisen from a need to use birds in religious ceremonies and as a convenient source of food. In modern times the factors which have infl uenced the choice of birds to be kept as pets are an ability to talk, readiness to breed in captivity, a lively manner and, perhaps most important of all, a beautiful plumage. So it is certain that a collection of stamps on this theme would be a colourful one.

Mynahs

Anyone starting out to keep birds should realise that the food requirements of seed-eating birds are easier to cater for than those that need a specialised diet which may include tropical fruit and live insects.

The Mynahs, relatives of the starlings, are one group which includes fruit, insects and earthworms in their diet. The Common Mynah is one of those species which has spread far beyond its native range of India and south-east Asia. They have been introduced to Australia, New Zealand, Southern Africa and widely scattered islands in the Pacifi c. Mynahs are prized because of their ability to talk, the Hill Mynah in particular is capable of almost perfect enunciation and can be trained to build up a surprisingly extensive vocabulary.

Often known as the Southern Grackle, the Hill Mynah is reckoned to be the best talker of all birds, including the parrots. However they are not ideal cage birds, with plumage that is mainly black and messy eating habits. Also a large, warm and draught free aviary is essential for them. The Hill Mynah can be seen on Thailand 1967, 25s. (563, described as a Talking Myna) and Taiwan 2000, $25 (2674).

The Common Mynah appears on British Indian Ocean Territory 1990, 80p, a portrait which shows well the typical yellow colouring around the eyes (100), and Laos 1995, 300k., a set which also includes the Hill Mynah and Indian Jungle Mynah (1436).

Many species of cage birds are now supplied from domestic stock and these are nearly always easier to manage than captured wild birds. It should be emphasised that in many countries it is against the law to take or trade in wild birds. Beginners in the hobby should be aware of current legislation in the country concerned.