Zebra Finch
IUCN
LC
Basic Information
Scientific classification
- name：Zebra Finch
- Scientific Name：Taeniopygia guttata
- Outline：Songbird
- Family：Estrildidae Taeniopygia
Vital signs
- length：10–12 cm
- Weight：10–15 g (≈12 g typical)
- lifetime：3–5 years wild; 5–9 in captivity
Feature
Model for song learning; highly social; adapted to arid habitats; monogamous pairs.
Distribution and Habitat
Arid/semi‑arid grasslands, open shrublands and farm edges near water across Australia; some introduced populations.
Appearance
Small grey‑brown finch; males with orange cheek patch, barred breast and bright bill; females duller without cheek patch.
Details
Zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) is one of Australia’s most widespread small passerines of arid and semi‑arid regions. Named for the male’s black‑and‑white barred chest, it is a social granivore and a key model for studies of vocal learning and neurobiology.
Ecology & Behaviour
Highly gregarious and typically monogamous; breeding tracks rainfall and fresh seeding grasses. Nests in shrubs or human structures; both parents feed chicks.
Diet & Role
Seeds of grasses dominate the diet, with green matter and small invertebrates taken opportunistically.
FAQ
Q1. How do you tell males from females?
Males show orange cheek patches, a barred breast and brighter red‑orange bill; females lack the cheek patch and bold barring.
Q2. Where is it native?
Interior and near‑coastal Australia in arid/semi‑arid grasslands and open scrub; introduced locally elsewhere.
Q3. What is its IUCN status?
LC (Least Concern) due to very large range and population, though local conditions such as drought can affect numbers.
Similar animals
Biue-Winged Pitta
Fairy Pitta (scientific name: Pitta nympha), also known as Pitta, is a species of Pitta genus of Pitta family. It is a fully migratory bird distributed in Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, Brunei, mainland China, Indonesia, Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam and North Korea. The global range is about 1,170,000...
Zebra Finch
Zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) is one of Australia’s most widespread small passerines ofarid and semi‑arid regions. Named for the male’s black‑and‑white barred chest, it is a social granivore and a keymodel for studies of vocal learning and neurobiology.Ecology & BehaviourHighly greg...
Hemipus picatus
The brown-backed flycatcher mainly breeds in mountain forests at an altitude of 800-2100 meters, and the breeding season is from March to June. It builds nests on trees, usually at the outer end of horizontal branches in the canopy layer. The nest is made of twigs, grass leaves, g...
Arundinax aedon
Thick-billed reed warbler is a bird of the family Albizia and genus Albizia. Like other reed warblers, it often moves and forages alone or in pairs in dense bushes and grasses. It is stealthy and moves quickly and agilely. During the breeding season, it often sings on high branches near the nest. It...
Acrocephalus scirpaceus
Reed warblers are small in size and often move alone or in pairs. They like to perch on reed stems and small willow branches. They are sexually active, agile and cautious, and often hide in bushes or grass.The call is a monotonous and dull 2-4 intermittent low call, sometimes imitating the singing o...
Acrocephalus dumetorum
Brandt's reed warbler is a small bird. The male and female have similar plumage. It may be a summer migratory bird in Xinjiang, China, and a stray bird in Hong Kong. It often moves alone or in pairs. It is lively and alert. It often jumps on low trees or flies between small trees. It is busy loo...
Acrocephalus agricola
The rice field reed warbler is a small bird with similar plumage for males and females. It often moves alone or in pairs. It also moves in groups during the migration period. It moves quickly and swiftly between the branches of shrubs or grass stems, and occasionally jumps to the top of shrubs or gr...
Acrocephalus tangorum
The Far Eastern Reed Warbler is a medium-sized, dull grey-brown reed warbler. The new winter plumage is very brown, with brown breast, flanks and undertail coverts. It is very similar to the Paddy Field Warbler, but with a longer bill and a striking black stripe on the brow. The bill is long and the...
Email: jsset668#gmail.com (change # to @) Please indicate your purpose of visit! Guangdong ICP No. 2022053326 XML| map| Chinese
