A Detailed Introduction to the Hwamei's Appearance and Key Points for Keeping It
The hwamei is a songbird of the order Passeriformes and the family Leiothrichidae. It gets its name from the white feathers around its eyes that extend backward, looking as though its eyebrows were drawn with a brush. Its song is melodious and varied, and it is a traditional ornamental songbird in China. It is mainly distributed in the mountain forests, scrub and bamboo groves of the Yangtze River basin and areas to the south. It is a resident bird and often moves about and sings in the early morning and at dusk.
An adult hwamei is about twenty-odd centimeters long, with plumage mainly in brown tones. It has a well-proportioned build and is good at singing and fond of fighting; generally, the male's song is louder and more varied. It is an omnivorous bird, feeding mainly on insects in the wild and also taking fruits, grass seeds and the like. During the breeding season it preys on large numbers of pests, which is of some benefit to agriculture and forestry.
When kept in captivity, a specially formulated compound feed can serve as the staple diet, supplemented with insects such as mealworms and a small amount of fresh fruits and vegetables, while ensuring clean drinking water. In daily care, provide a quiet, well-ventilated environment, and regularly let the bird take a water bath or sand bath to clean its feathers; during the molting period and in winter, pay attention to keeping it warm and to nutritional supplementation. A newly caged hwamei is easily startled, so it is best to let it rest quietly at first, then gradually get it used to contact with people, and avoid frequently moving the cage.
A common problem in keeping them is that the bird does not sing, which is mostly related to an unfamiliar environment, being disturbed, being in the molting period, or lacking companions to sing with. At such times, feed it regularly, keep the environment stable, and patiently let it rest quietly; once the breeding season arrives, the male's singing usually increases noticeably.
It is especially important to note that the hwamei has been listed as a national second-class protected wild animal, and catching or trading wild hwameis without authorization is illegal. If you wish to keep one for viewing, it should be obtained through legal channels, while also protecting wild populations and their habitats.