A native of the Australian grasslands, the zebra finch (Peophila guttata) makes a hardy, pleasant companion bird. Its has a soft, chirping voice that most humans find audibly pleasing. A gentle bird, it usually lives seven to 10 years. A small bird, it measures 4 inches in length when fully grown.
Appearance
The male zebra finch sports more eye-catching feather patterns and colors. The finch exhibits chestnut ear patches, a black and white barring across the chest and black with white stripes beside the eyes. The body has varying shades of gray and white, and the beak stands out with a brilliant red hue. The female has clear gray and tan feathers and an orange-red beak. Both male and female zebra finches have orange feet. Some color mutations do occur in the pet trade. Some zebra finch varieties sport a crest.
Wild Habitat
In their wild habitat, zebra finches live in groups of up to 100 individual birds. The male and female build their nests in shrubs or low trees. The female lays three to six eggs, and both parents raise the young together. The birds flourish in dry regions of their native homeland. They subsist off a diet of seeds. In 1960, the Australian government put a ban on the export of wild-caught zebra finches. The birds breed easily in captivity, so they have continued to dominate the pet market.
Captivity
A social bird, the zebra finch does best when kept in small groups. Six to eight individual zebra finches can thrive in a 4-foot flight cage in a home. The birds enjoy having at least eight hours of sunlight per day. They are their most active during the daylight hours. The birds enjoys sleeping within the confines of a wicker nest box at night and tolerate a temperature range of 45 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit. A curious and active bird, the zebra finch benefits from having a wide array of bird toys in its cage, especially a bird swing and mirror.
Breeding and Feeding
Zebra finches begin to breed at approximately 12 weeks of age, but owners should avoid breeding the small birds until they reach 9 months old. The eggs take approximately 12 to 14 days to hatch. Avoid disturbing the nest, and provide a fully enclosed wicker nest box per pair of birds. Place clean grass and fibers on the floor of the cage for the male to gather to construct a nest. The birds make excellent parents and usually care well for the young. Feed the birds a diet that consists of seeds, fresh greens and small mealworms. They also relish sprouts. For a special treat. give the birds a hard-boiled egg, complete with the shell.
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