Bad Birds in Quarantine

March 10, 2021 7:57 PM

'The chestnut-bellied seed finch, known in Guyana as the towa-towa, is at the center of a lucrative underground trade that culminates in Queens, New York, where immigrant Guyanese men engage the birds in elaborate, secretive competitions.' [CW: animal abuse]
posted by Fiasco da Gama (6 comments total)

See also the NYT video (on youtube): The Bird Kings of Queens. Has small examples of actual finch song. For many more examples of chestnut-bellied seed finches in the wild, there's Xeno-Canto.
posted by kaibutsu at 10:06 PM on March 10, 2021

OK I'll just post it in the open, CW for animal abuse in the original article.
posted by Rufous-headed Towhee heehee at 11:32 PM on March 10, 2021 [4 favorites]

Reminds me of this video about Vinkensport in the Netherlands. The difference between the two is notable. I think I'd rather hang out in Smokey Park.
posted by From Bklyn at 12:11 AM on March 11, 2021 [1 favorite]

Vinkensport previously.

If they love the birds, and want them to sing well, why are they so cruel? Oh wait, humans.
posted by scruss at 5:15 AM on March 11, 2021 [2 favorites]

What the hell.
posted by all about eevee at 9:30 AM on March 11, 2021

While visiting Guyana my sister, whose husband was born there, asked out of curiosity if she could see one of these bird competitions but learned they are strictly a male-only thing, absolutely no women permitted. She also told sadly hearing of smuggled birds suffocating en route to the US. So, animal cruelty with a side of mysogyny.
posted by kinnakeet at 9:52 AM on March 11, 2021 [3 favorites]