Some of the Ingram's birds

The aviary birds were William’s speciality, while those in the house were Minima’s.

Top left The New Zealand Kea Parrot, of which Collingwood later wrote#

When I was a boy my people kept a pet Kea, and this bird, under a mask of friendship, never lost an opportunity of giving one’s finger a savage nip.[1]

Top centre, Budgerigars

 Top right, Begum the Yellowhammer, aged 9 in 1900.

Bottom left, Tiny the albino sparrow, aged 12 in 1903: she lived to be 15, a great age for a small bird. Tiny made her nest in the drawing room, which was given over to her every year. The materials she used included black ribbons, blue chiffons, coloured silks, a few feathers and hair from the Airdale terrier Manifold and from Minima’s own head.[2]

Bottom right, Bare throated Francolin with young. William wrote an article about his breeding success with this species in the Avicultural Magazine of 1905. The article was illustrated by Collingwood, including this sketch.

Collingwood grew up surrounded by birds.