# Zebra Finch (*Taeniopygia guttata*) Zebra Finches are small, colorful birds that love to sing and chirp. They have beautiful stripes on their cheeks and are very social, often living in groups with their friends. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Zebra Finch](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/2014-08-19_Zebra_Finch%252C_Sumba%252C_Nusa_Tenggara_Timur%252C_Indonesia_1.jpg&width=800) Photo: christoph_moning, CC BY 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2014-08-19_Zebra_Finch%252C_Sumba%252C_Nusa_Tenggara_Timur%252C_Indonesia_1.jpg) ## Appearance The Zebra Finch has a striking reddish-orange beak and a grey head. Males boast vibrant orange cheek patches and bold zebra-striped markings on their throat and chest, with spotted chestnut flanks. Females are plainer, lacking these distinct colourful features. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Estrildidae - **Genus:** Taeniopygia ## Interesting facts - Baby finches learn their songs by copying their fathers, just like people! - In the wild, they often live in huge flocks of up to 100 birds! - They often pair for life, showing strong loyalty to their mate! - Zebra finches love to chatter, making a constant "teet-teet" sound! ## Special abilities - **Rapid Recruiter:** Zebra Finch can breed very quickly because this helps them rapidly increase their numbers when food is plentiful. - **Song Weaver:** Zebra Finch can learn complex songs from other finches, which helps them communicate and attract mates. - **Desert Drinker:** Zebra Finch has a special drinking technique that lets them quickly sip water in arid environments, avoiding predators. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 10-12 cm - **Wingspan:** 15-18 cm - **Weight:** 0.01-0.016 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-7 years - **Speed:** 45 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 4-8 - **Incubation:** 11-16 days ## Diet & Feeding Tiny seeds and a few insects make up the main diet of this active little bird. - **Primary Foods:** Grass Seeds, Plant Seeds, Small Insects - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Brown Falcon (*Falco berigora*) — A native raptor that preys on finches. - **Eaten by:** Feral Cat (*Felis catus*) — An introduced predator of finches. - **Eats:** Brown's Lovegrass (*Eragrostis brownii*) — A primary source of nutritious seeds. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low If you see a pet bird, always ask the owner before getting close. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Zebra Finch? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Zebra Finch? 10-12 cm ### What is Zebra Finch's wingspan? 15-18 cm ### How much does Zebra Finch weigh? 0.01-0.016 kg ### How long does Zebra Finch live? 2-7 years ### How fast can Zebra Finch move? 45 km/h ### What does Zebra Finch eat? Tiny seeds and a few insects make up the main diet of this active little bird. ### Where is Zebra Finch usually found? Grasslands ## Where to spot - [Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/key-west-butterfly-and-nature-conservatory) — Florida, US · Zoo ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Zebra Finch: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/zebra-finch)