Zephyr's Feathered Rainbow
Australian Grassfinches
Zephyr's Feathered RainbowAustralian Grassfinches |
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| Popular Beauties & Songsters | |||||
| The Australian grassfinches, including the Zebra, Star, Owl & Shaft-tailed Finch, among others, are from Australia and neighbouring islands. A typical grassfinch is dressed in a neutral or muted colour, brightly marked with red. Voices vary from pleasant singers, to chatty Zebras to squeeks and peeps. | |||||
Zebra Finches |
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| Taeniopygia guttata or Poephila guttata | |||||
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10cm (4in) Australian grassfinch, in "American" or wild-type lines, 12-15g (½oz), and "English" show-type lines, 18-22g (¾oz), even up to 28g (1oz). Active and not shy. Males sing and chatter from dawn to dusk. Grey with white & black on the face & tail. Males have orange cheek patches, black & white on the chest, and chestnut flanks. |
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Keep one or more true pairs, or a same-sex duo or group. Compatible with most other finches, but will steal nesting material from the pairs of more timid species. We have several pairs and are focusing on crested and eumo mutations. |
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The normal-coloured Zebra: Grey head, back & wings. Beak outlined in black, white face, black tear drops. Tail striped black & white. Hen: orange beak, grey cheeks & flanks, grey throat & breast, tan belly. Male: red beak, orange cheek patches, chestnut flanks dotted in white, black stripes on throat & black breast bar, white belly. |
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Orange-breast Black-breast Combos are Lovely & Orange! The black-breast mutation changes the pattern of the markings. The orange-breast mutation changes black markings to orange. |
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Star Finches |
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| Neochmia ruficauda | |||||
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12cm (5in), 11-16g (½oz) Australian grassfinch. Active, lively, and often found in the aviary greenery. Males sing. Keep two or more. Compatible with other peaceful finches. They are olive green and yellow, with a red face mask and matching tail. Hens are similar, but not as brightly coloured and usually with a smaller face mask. There are two mutations, yellow-face and pastel. |
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Last Page Update: On or after 2021 June 6Copyright: All information, graphics, and photographs presented on this website are owned by the author and subject to copyright laws. If you wish to reproduce any contents of this site you must obtain written permission in advance. |
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