Zebra Finches

Zebra Finches

Zebra Finches have been one of the most popular varieties of pet birds for over a hundred years. These attractive little creatures are hardy, inexpensive, active, and one of the easiest birds to keep and breed. They are especially loved by their owners because of their cheerful nature and active lifestyle.

In the wild, Zebra Finches can be found in the grass or brush lands, dry savannas, pastures and cultivated fields. They are the most common and familiar finches in central Australia. They range over most of the Australian continent where they live in dry areas, and they can also be found in Indonesia, and Timor-Leste. The Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata) has been more recently introduced to Puerto Rico, Portugal, Brazil and the US. The ground-dwelling finch grows to about 3.9 inches long and prefers to eat grass seeds.


Coloring and Markings

There is great variety in the colors and patterns on Zebra Finches, and the males and females are very similar in size. You can tell them apart because the male usually has bright orange cheek feathers, a red beak (the female’s beak is orange), and generally has more striking black and white patterns. Occasionally the only obvious difference between the male and female Zebra Finch is the beak because the orange cheek coloring may be faded or nonexistent.

In general, the male Zebra Finch has a gray upper body and wings, and a white belly, and their beak and legs are a red-orange color. The male’s chest is black and white striped like a zebra – hence its name, Zebra Finch. The males also have a teardrop mark under the eye that may be brown, tan or fawn – but Zebra Finch enthusiasts usually call it “orange.”

The female Zebra Finch also has a gray upper body and wings with a white belly, but in contrast to the male, their beaks and legs are lighter in color. The female finch also has a black teardrop mark under the eye.

Some of the different Zebra Finch varieties include the Fawn, Chestnut Flanked White, Lightback, Pied, Black or Orange Breasted and the Black Cheek.



Zebra Finches as Pets

The Zebra Finch is one of the most popular varieties seen in pet stores, but because they are gregarious birds and need the company of other finches, plan on getting a pair, and have a large cage so they can fly.(see article about Finch Cages)



Zebra Finch Song


Zebra Finches are loud and boisterous singers, and this ability also makes them popular as pet songbirds Male Zebra Finches begin to sing at puberty while females lack a singing ability. Each male’s song is unique but “finch song” along the same bloodline will have similarities. They begin to learn to sing using a few disjointed sounds, but as they experiment, the sounds mature into full-fledged songs. In the beginning they match what they sing to the memory of the father’s song, and as they mature, they incorporate sounds from their surroundings and use the songs of other males for inspiration. Male finches use their song, in part, as a mating call, and they also emit a hissing sound when they are protecting their territory.







Diet

As is the case for the birds in the wild, seeds are the basic food for Zebra Finches in captivity, as their beaks are adapted for de-husking small seeds. They prefer millet, but will also consume many other kinds of seeds, and you can also introduce fresh foods from your kitchen.

The little birds, just like people, will have different likes and dislikes and you can experiment with different food items to see what appeals to your finches. You can try different things like bread crumbs, mixed vegetables, sprouts (alfalfa, etc.), spinach, corn bread, hard boiled eggs (mashed), and lettuce, In fact, most fresh foods can be fed to your birds but stay away from extremes like peppers, cabbage, etc.

They are messy and voracious eaters, and typically drop seeds everywhere (which helps with plant reproduction in the wild). Water is very important to their survival, and they will drink often when water is available. Also make sure to feed your Zebra Finches only the amount of fresh food that they can eat on a daily basis. Remove any food that they do not eat before it spoils. Although Zebra Finches are very hardy, eating daily is vital for their survival – so make sure that you always keep their seed bowl filled.





Life Expectancy

The life expectancy of a Zebra Finch can vary greatly because of environmental and genetic factors. It can live up to 5 years in its own natural habitat, and if they are kept caged they can live for about 8 – 10 years. If they are happy and well cared for, they can even live for about 12 years.