Colours

The Bengo or Bengalese Mannikin is a finch that comes in a variety of coulors, some are more rare than others in Australia. In 2003 the Bengalese Breeders Society in Queensland established a standard for Bengalese show birds and included in that was a guide for the Bengalese Finch Colours in Australia. The Bengalese Breeders Society is not currently active at this stage but we can all hope that this will change in the future. Various States tend to have some different terminologies for various colours and such but this is an excellent guide for us all.

"The Bengalese Breeders Society was founded in 2002 by a group of enthusiasts dedicated to the keeping and breeding of this often forgotten finch within aviculture.

Due to the hard work and dedication of this small band of enthusiasts, every effort is being made to promote and develop this delightful little bird in avicultural circles. 

The various colour forms  available lends this bird to the study of genetics. As well its suitability as an exhibition species it will one day rival the Zebra Finch.

The first step in the promotion of the Bengalese Finch as an exhibition species is the promotion of this Show Standard. The first such publication in Australia soely devoted to the various colour forms and Type standard.

It is hoped that fellow fanciers use this Show Standard in the development of the various colour forms currently available and the development of any new mutations."

Bengalese Breeders Society Show Standard 2003

Colour Standards

Self Chocolate

Head, neck upper breast, wing flights and tail dark chocolate. Cheeks, mantle and wing coverts chocolate. The lower breast, underparts and rump cream with uniform "V" shaped dark chocolate flecks.
Beak - upper mandible dark grey, lower mandible steel grey
Legs - dark grey

Self Chestnut

Head, neck upper breast, wing flights and tail dark coffee brown. Cheeks, mantle and wing coverts coffee brown. The lower breast, underparts and rump cream with uniform "V" shaped dark coffee brown flecks.
Beak - upper mandible dark grey, lower mandible steel grey
Legs - dark grey

Self Fawn (Ginger)

Head, neck upper breast, wing flights and tail dark red brown. Cheeks, mantle and wing coverts red brown. The lower breast, underparts and rump cream with uniform "V" shaped dark red brown flecks.
Beak - upper mandible dark horn, lower mandible light horn
Legs - horn coloured

White

To be pure white, showing no markings on the body or pigment in the bill or legs.

Pastel (Dilute Fawn)

Head, neck upper breast and tail dilute red brown. Cheeks, mantle and wing coverts cream. Wing flights off-white. The lower breast and underparts white without flecks
Beak - upper and lower mandible horn
Legs - horn coloured

Pied (Variegated)

To conform to appropriate colour. Markings and body colour to be brokenwith white ina symetrical pattern. Pink markings in the bill and legs is permissible.
The Sydney Finch Exhibitors have an excellent standard in variegeated Bengos and go further to classify them into 3 sub groups of;
1) Lightly Variegated
2) Variegated 
3) Heavily Variegated

Dilute

To conform to appropriate colour. All markings and body colour to carry an even dilution of colouring throughout; preferably by at least 30% of the base colour.

Crested

The crest should be as large as possible but neat and radiating from the centre point on top of the head



I encourage anyone to contact me if they have an image of an unusually coloured Bengo or if you just think your finch is a good looker! I would love to include the photo somewhere on this site.