English Zebra Finch

Colorful, curious and chatty personalities with a somewhat monotonous "honking" song which grows on you. Slightly territorial but less so than their normal sized cousins and not as active.

Description: Heavy bodied and 4-5 inches in length with gray blue and brown dominating the normal bodied zebra. Black stripes and band on the chest with outrageous orange cheek patches on the male. A tear drop below the eye and a bright red beak are standard fare. The female lacks the cheek patch, the striping and breast band. Many mutations in color are available.

Country of origin: Australia, with a sub species in Timor.

Diet: Standard finch mix with mixed millets and canary grass. Greens and small pieces of fruit and sprouted seeds.

Housing: 70 degrees minimum. At least a 2 foot wide cage. Enjoy a sleeping nest.

Breeding: Require egg food, greens and soaked or sprouted seed in addition to their normal diet to feed their young. They prefer a 5x5 box nest with a half open front. Provide bulky nesting materials such as grasses and coco fibre with soft white cotton or white feathers for the finishing. Remove nesting material when egg laying begins or the male will continue to build over the eggs. Incubation shared by both parents and takes 13-16 days.

Recommendation: More difficult to reproduce than their smaller cousins as they are not always in the parenting mode. Good in a mixed aviary of peaceful finches.