Chestnut-eared finch
The Australian zebra finch (Taeniopygia castanotis) is the most common estrildid finch of Central Australia. It has also been introduced to Puerto Rico and Portugal. Due to the ease of keeping and breeding the zebra finch in captivity, it has become Australia’s most widely studied bird; by 2010, it was the most studied captive model passerine species worldwide, by a considerable margin.
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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HerbivoreA herbivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating plant material, for example, foliage, for the main component of its die...
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GranivoreSeed predation, often referred to as granivory, is a type of plant-animal interaction in which granivores (seed predators) feed on the seeds of pla...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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ArborealArboreal locomotion is the locomotion of animals in trees. In habitats in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some anima...
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OviparousOviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
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AltricialAltricial animals are those species whose newly hatched or born young are relatively immobile. They lack hair or down, are not able to obtain food ...
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ZoochoryZoochory animals are those that can disperse plant seeds in several ways. Seeds can be transported on the outside of vertebrate animals (mostly mam...
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CongregatoryCongregatory animals tend to gather in large numbers in specific areas as breeding colonies, for feeding, or for resting.
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MonogamyMonogamy is a form of relationship in which both the male and the female has only one partner. This pair may cohabitate in an area or territory for...
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FlockingFlocking birds are those that tend to gather to forage or travel collectively. Avian flocks are typically associated with migration. Flocking also ...
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ColonialColonial animals live in large aggregations composed of two or more conspecific individuals in close association with or connected to, one another....
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Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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starts withMale zebra finches have a colorful plumage consisting of white, black, gray, orange, and brown colors; females are uniformly gray. Both sexes have red eyes and orange bills. Young birds are similar to females but their eyes are grey-brown and the bill is black.
Australian zebra finches are found in about 75% of mainland Australia. They are generally not found on the coasts, except for the arid western edge. They usually occur in more arid areas. The areas these birds choose to occupy are close to water, and places where rain is concentrated after it falls. They inhabit grasslands with scattered trees and shrubs and open or grassy woodlands. They are also found in cultivated areas, such as rice fields. They usually stay in the low coastal areas of the islands but can move to higher elevations to exploit expanding cultivation and grasslands.
Australian zebra finches are social birds; they live and forage in flocks, although sometimes they may feed in pairs or singly. During the breeding season, small or medium-sized flocks are common, but outside of the breeding season, they gather in flocks of up to about 500 birds. Zebra finches are diurnal and generally forage on the ground but they also eat seeds on the heads of standing grass. To do this, they either fly and peck out seeds one at a time, or they perch on a nearby branch. They may also take the head to the ground by jumping up and seizing it with their bill or feet. In times of scarcity, zebra finches can use their bill to dig into the ground to find a buried seed. Insects are usually caught in short flights from lookout perches. Zebra finches are loud and boisterous singers. Their calls can be a loud beep, meep, oi! or a-ha!. Their song is a few small beeps, leading up to a rhythmic song of varying complexity in males. Males begin to sing at puberty, while females lack a singing ability.
Zebra finches are herbivores (granivores) and primarily eat grass seeds. The grasses they are taken from are commonly between about 1 and 2.6 millimeters (0.039 and 0.102 in) in length, and larger and easily dehusked seeds are preferred. Zebra finches supplement their diet with insects (mainly ants and termites) caught in short flights from lookout perches, in addition to flowers of the genus Chenopodium. The nestlings eat almost entirely half-ripe and ripe seeds, in addition to green plant material.
Zebra finches are monogamous and mate for life. They generally breed in loose colonies of up to 50 nests (although the number of individuals in a colony can be up to about 230 when breeding, and around 350 when not), but they may also nest solitarily. Australian zebra finches breed about 1-3 months after water becomes available. This is so that the chicks hatch when semi-ripe and ripe seeds (their primary food) become available. Nests are usually placed in a thorny shrub or tree, but also in cavities and ledges of commercial buildings. Zebra finches build both a roosting and breeding nest. The former is dome-shaped, has a large entrance on the side, and lacks an entrance tunnel. This nest helps the birds conserve body heat. The breeding nest has a small entrance followed by a tunnel, which conceals the contents of the nest, leading to the egg chamber; the latter two are separated by a raised lip, preventing eggs from rolling out. The female lays 2-8 white or pale greyish-blue eggs which are incubated for 14 to 16 days by both parents. Chicks fledge about 17-18 days after hatching. They are able to feed themselves around 35 days after hatching, although they are still socially dependent on their parents during this time; Young zebra finches fledge about 17 to 18 days after hatching. They feed themselves around 35 days after hatching, although they are still socially dependent on their parents during this time. The young become independent between 36-50 days after hatching and are ready to form pair bonds and breed when they get close to 80 days in age.
There are no major threats to zebra finches at present.
According to the IUCN Red List, the Australian zebra is common throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are stable.
Zebra finches help to disperse seeds of various plants they consume in their diet. These birds and their eggs also serve as food items to local predators.
Social animals are those animals that interact highly with other animals, usually of their own species (conspecifics), to the point of having a rec...