“Small but stunning” describes our cover bird, Australia’s exquisite diamond firetail. This little finch, with its blaze of scarlet, has long been a favourite with fanciers, and top specimens have achieved some remarkable successes on the show circuit, too. Pro birdkeeper Chris Green explains the key points of keeping and breeding these jewels, and emphasises diet – these diamonds easily get too fat! Gorgeous colour features elsewhere, too, especially in our softbill roundup which glances at the even brighter scarlet northern cardinal: a hardbill that sometimes thinks it’s a softbill. Blue and white are our shades of Border canary this week, with yellow and green Yorkshires (in Brazil) also a feature. We learn how to plant an aviary for free, and how to train an agile roller pigeon for its show flight. Plus: a personal take on this year’s BS Club Show, as well as all the regulars.

“Small but stunning” describes our cover bird, Australia’s exquisite diamond firetail. This little finch, with its blaze of scarlet, has long been a favourite with fanciers, and top specimens have achieved some remarkable successes on the show circuit, too. Pro birdkeeper Chris Green explains the key points of keeping and breeding these jewels, ....