Zebra Finch – Profile, Food, Care, Facts
A zebra finch is among the most attractive bird species in the world. Zebra finches are easy to care for and maintain, making these birds suitable for first-time pet bird owners.
The other benefit of keeping zebra finches over other pet birds is that they are thrilling to watch. Their singing and chirping can be entertaining. The small size of these birds makes them suitable for pet bird lovers with smaller living spaces.
The zebra finch derives its name from its white and black markings on its chest and tail. Zebra finches are dimorphic, meaning they are easily recognizable from their sexes. If you want to keep a zebra finch as a bird pet, it will help to know all the guidelines for keeping this bird.
Zebra finches are also pets, and hence they require proper care like other types of pets. Let’s see more about the zebra finch in this guide, especially if you think of keeping this attractive bird as a pet.
Natural Habitat
The zebra finch’s natural habitats include forests and grasslands. The bird prefers to live near water. Zebra finches are prevalent in huge flocks in their native habitats of arid regions of Indonesia and Australia.
These birds are also present in Portugal and other European areas, forming part of wild bird species. Some zebra finches are also present in Costa Rica.
Appearance
Zebra finches are small bird species. Most zebra finch species measure between 4 and 7 inches long on average. They have zebra-like white and black stripes on their body. Males have white and black bars on their chests and orange check patches. Females have a grey color in those parts.
The standard physical trait of both and female zebra finches is their red-orange beaks. Males, however, have a much brighter beak than females. Females have a white underbelly. Females also have black and white stripes on their upper chests.
The most distinctive physical appearance between females and males is the chestnut patch. Females lack a chestnut patch on their faces, while males a conspicuous patch on their faces.
Behavior
A zebra finch is a diurnal bird, meaning this tiny bird is active during the daytime. Zebra finches prefer foraging on the ground. Nonetheless, some can forage for grass seeds on tall grass.
Zebra finches forage on grassland by flying and pecking out the grass seeds one seed at a time. Or, they can perch on a branch and then peck out the grass seeds.
Zebra finches are social bird species. Zebra finches prefer to live in pairs to thrive well while in captivity. These birds also net in multiple substrates, from bushes to shrubs. Some zebra finches have been spotted nesting on termite nests.
Food & Diet
Zebra finches are omnivorous bird species. Hence, these birds feed on a diet consisting of seeds and insects. In the wild, these birds forage to plant seeds, berries, weeds, and pine cones.
The diet for wild zebras shouldn’t be different from the diet of wild zebra finches. While wild birds can feed on a wide variety of ripe and semi-ripe seeds, most zebra wild finch species’ favorite seeds are the grass seeds.
Grass seeds are a stable source of food for wild zebra finches. These birds usually forage in flocks. Some birds can, however, feed in pairs, especially during the mating season. Although in rare cases, some zebra finches can be seen foraging on their own.
Nonetheless, food and diet can vary significantly among captive birds. The explanation being that captive zebra finches can’t afford to have a rich source of food choices, unlike wild bird birds. Hence, your pet bird will rely on the food you are providing the pet.
Put the food on the bottom of your bird’s cage, rather than putting food under perches. Such a feeding method will encourage the bird to embrace its natural foraging behavior.
A seed-based diet can help complement your bird’s diet. Consider purchasing a seed mix for your pet. Give your bird at least two spoons of seed mix daily. Seeds provide the highest nutritional value when the seeds are in the sprouting stage. Hence, purchase fresh seeds and place them in wet conditions to facilitate sprouting.
Apart from seeds, you should provide your pet zebra finch with a rich source of greens. Some best green food choices to offer to your bird include dandelion greens, spinach, kale romaine, lettuce, and a wide array of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Nonetheless, avoid feeding your pet with avocado since this fruit is poisonous to most bird species. Greens are vital for providing your zebra finch with essential nutrients such as vitamins and potassium.
To complement the nutritional value of your bird’s diet, consider providing it with a couple of pellets every day. Pellets make a crucial part of a zebra finch’s balanced diet. Be consistent in feeding your pet with pellet food to encourage the bird to like the food.
You can supplement the bird’s diet with an egg food supplement once in a while. A high-quality food supplement is suitable for all zebra finches, especially for breeding birds. Provide a calcium supplement to your zebra finch, such as cuttlebone, particularly if you suspect your pet has a calcium deficiency.
Calcium is crucial for the optimal development of your bird’s bone. Zebra finches also need to sharpen their beaks, and hence calcium is essential to ensure your pet’s beak is sharp enough to withstand sharpening. Else, the beak might break off if it isn’t strong enough.
While it is essential to know the right foods to provide to your zebra finch, you should also know some items to avoid giving to your pet bird. The unripe parts of plants and their stems can be toxic to your bird.
Nuts and other fatty things aren’t only unhealthy, but they can also cause weight issues for your bird. Furthermore, avoid feeding your bird with flesh if other healthy foods such as vegetables or seeds you can provide to your pet bird.
Although zebra hunches are omnivorous, a meat-based diet that includes insects is their last option. Uncooked beans are also not suitable for zebra finches.
Enclosure Setup
Zebra finches are high-energy bird species. These birds, therefore, need to live in wide enclosures to enable them to fly freely to stay healthy. The appropriate cage for your zebra finch should be wider but not taller.
A tall enclosure won’t allow your bird to fly whenever it wants to flap its wings. The recommended enclosure for a single zebra finch should be 24 inches long, 18 inches wide, and 18 inches high. Ensure appropriate bar spacing in the cage to prevent your bird from getting stuck between the spaces.
The appropriate bar spaces shouldn’t exceed between 1 ¼ and 2 inches. Remember, a zebra finch is a minute bird, and it can easily escape through the openings. If you have a pair of zebra finches, consider erecting a wide and slightly taller enclosure.
Make sure there are two or three perches in the bird’s enclosure. Avoid crowding the cage with too many perches lest you deny your zebra finch room to flap its wings. Pick perches with varied textures and widths to keep your pet’s feet strong and healthy. The perches should be wide enough to allow the bird to maintain balance while perching.
Apart from perches, ensure the enclosure has nests where your female can lay eggs. Zebra finches breed pretty fast, particularly when in captivity.
Finally, place a water dish in the enclosure to allow the bird to take a bath—birds, including zebra finches like bathing. Bathing helps keep your bird healthy, and it also helps it maintain its attractive appearance.
Breeding
Breeding among zebra finches usually occurs during rainy seasons. The male finch mates with a female finch. The female then lays 4 to 6 eggs in a nest. Hatching takes place after two weeks. The average fledging period among zebra finches is three weeks.
Lifespan
Wild zebra finches have an average lifespan of between 2-5 years. Their lifespan can be even shorter since multiple factors affect their lifespan.
Predators such as feral cats, jackals, and other birds like hawks prey on these tiny birds. Furthermore, the harsh climatic conditions in the wild can also shorten their lifespan.
However, captive zebra finches have a longer lifespan. These birds can live between 5 and 9 years in captivity. Some captive zebra finches can have a lifespan of up to 12 years.
The longest living captive zebra finch died at 14.5 years. The greatest threat to zebra hunches in captivity is cats. The lifespan of these captive birds can also be affected by the natural loss of food.
Do Finches Talk?
Finches aren’t talking birds such as parrots. While these birds don’t have the natural ability to speak like humans, their aerial antics help delight owners. Furthermore, their social interactions with each other can be pretty entertaining.
Are Finches Noisy Birds?
Both captive and wild zebra finches make long, sharp, and cheeping sounds. These birds are exceptionally cheerful while living in groups. They can be particularly noisy during flight.
However, individual birds aren’t loud since they don’t have other birds to socialize with. Furthermore, captive zebra finches are less noisy than their wild counterparts.
Wrap Up
Zebra finches are wonderful bird pets. These birds are the easiest pet birds to maintain. Their attractive appearance makes them cute. You can have a great bird pet for several years, provided you take appropriate care of your pet.
