Zebra Finch
Taeniopygia guttata
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Type | Bird |
| Group | |
| Biology | Breeding season: October to April, varies depending on rainfall. They pair for life. The female selects the nest site, but both sexes care for the eggs and the young. The male gathers most of the nesting material. The female constructs the loose dome-shaped nest. |
| Distinctive Markings | Black tear drop eye stripes. Zebra-like black and white barring on the rump and upper tail. |
| Taxonomy | |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Estrildidae |
| Genus | Taeniopygia |
| Species | guttata |
With a time-span of 70 to 80 days from hatching to becoming sexually active, the Zebra Finch is one of the fastest maturing bird species recorded.
| Interesting Facts | |
|---|---|
| Diet | Omnivore. Feeds on grass seeds and insects. |
| Habitat | Found in grasslands, shrublands and sparsely treed woodlands, usually not far from water. |
| Native Status | Native to Australia |