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Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata) Alternate name(s): "Chestnut-eared Finch" Aboriginal name(s): "nyiri-nyiri", "nyi-nyi", "nanakawi" Size: 10 cm Body mass: 10-15 g

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Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Zebra Finches are small finches. Their plumage is dimorphic, i.e. males and females are different. Both sexes have a black fringe at the base of the bill, black "tear drop" stripes below the eyes and a white patch between the two black stripes. The frons, crown and nape of the neck are light-grey. The back, including the wings, is brownish-grey. The front, from the lower chest to the undertail coverts, is creamy-white (males) or greyish-white (females, juveniles). The tail is black, with large white spots giving the appearance of zebra-like bars. Male Zebra Finches have orange-rufous ear patches and a lightly barred grey throat patch above a black chest band. The flanks are chestnut, with conspicuous white spots. Female Zebra Finches instead have grey ear patches and a plain grey throat, chest and flanks. Both sexes have eyes with red-brown irises and a strong, orange-red, wedge-shaped bill. The legs and feet are pinkish-orange. Juveniles have a dark-grey bill and more pinkish-grey legs and feet, but otherwise they resemble females.

Taxonomy, classification See Zebra Finch at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Zebra Finch is available HERE . There are two races of Zebra Finches. Nominate race "guttata" is found on the Lesser Sunda Islands of eastern Indonesia and Timor Leste. NB: Reports on ebird of birds submitted by birdwatchers from the Australian Outback tend to be clustered along roads and public areas such as camp grounds; in such cases their distribution is not a good representation of the overall distribution of the species. Zebra Finches, race "castanotis", are endemic to Australia. They are found all through the interior of the continent, from the West coast of WA North of Geraldton (excluding the south-western tip and only rarely in the Perth area) to the Great Dividing Range in the East. They are only rarely found along the South coast, except near Port Augusta and Adelaide, SA, and none of the other coasts, all around the continent via the East coast and the North coast, including the entire Top End of the NT, where they are only rarely seen, up to the Kimberley in WA. They are not found on Cape York peninsula either. Zebra Finches have a preference for open inland habitats, often in open grassland or scattered trees with undergrowth, in semi-arid to arid environments. They have developed a preference for (the introduced noxious weeed) African Boxthorn, which is often found under trees on farms or along creeks. They are also attracted by other (preferably prickly) weeds and other dense vegetation by roadsides. Where to look? How to find this species? When out in an (often sun-drenched) inland landscape, if you are suddenly surrounded by what sounds like many little buzzing plastic toys, you have found a flock of Zebra Finches moving in. Since they need water daily, the best targeted approach to find Zebra Finches is to find their preferred local waterhole and to just spend some time there until they arrive (it helps if there are seeding grasses and/or prickly shrubs nearby).

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "castanotis" Our first sighting of Zebra Finches, race "castanotis", was in April 2006, on the outskirts of Narrabri, NSW. Later, in December 2006, a flock of about 20 birds came to visit us at Eulah Creek, 20 km East of Narrabri. Since then they are seen regularly in the Narrabri region. A small colony of up to 50 birds was found by us nesting at Eulah Creek, 20 km East of Narrabri in August 2008 (i.e. in late winter). Seen at the same location in the years since then. Zebra Finches come to the garden of our rural property only in exceptionally dry conditions, in search of water when farm dams in the area have dried up. Zebra Finches, race "castanotis", have also been spotted by us in many different locations in semi-arid and arid country on trips into outback NSW, SA and south-western QLD. We have also heard them repeatedly over the years in densely piled garden rubbish at the local rubbish tip. R. Druce reports breeding Zebra Finches, race "castanotis", 5 km West of Maules Creek, NSW, in October 2011. We have also spotted Zebra Finches, race "castanotis", at Leard State Forest, e.g. in May 2014. C. Hayne reports spotting Zebra Finches, race "castanotis", regularly in various locations around Moree, NSW. D. Wilczynska reports spotting Zebra Finches, race "castanotis", at Uluru, NT, in March 2015. J. Greaves reports spotting Zebra Finches, race "castanotis", at Boolardy Station, Murchison, WA, in January 2014 and at the Granites Gold Mine, inland NT, in June 2015. A. Campbell reports spotting Zebra Finches, race "castanotis", semi-regularly at Mount McEuen, QLD. M. Mearns reports finding Zebra Finches, race "castanotis", at Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) NP, QLD, in July 2016, and in several other locations, including Diamantina NP, in western QLD in September 2019. C. Pears spotted Zebra Finches, race "castanotis", at Finke Gorge NP, NT, in August 2016. Others were found at the Broome Bird Observatory, Broome, WA, in June 2025. M. Eaton reports finding Zebra Finches, race "castanotis", regularly in various locations in inland QLD. P. Brown spotted Zebra Finches, race "castanotis", along the Barkly Highway, NT, in September 2021. In June 2022, M. Eaton found Zebra Finches, race "castanotis", at Roxby Downs, SA. More were found at Marla, SA, in October 2022.

Photos

Race "castanotis"

ADULT

PAIR

Near-frontal view of a pair of Zebra Finches in a close huddle, male on the right; this type of behaviour is part of a bonding ritual (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Moondarra, near Mount Isa, QLD, June 2021]

Near-frontal view of a pair of Zebra Finches
[Near Wee Waa, NSW, July 2023]

Near-lateral view of a pair of Zebra Finches
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2020]

Lateral view of a pair of Zebra Finches
[Leard State Forest, NSW, May 2014]

Lateral view of a pair of Zebra Finches (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)

Near-dorsal view of a pair of Zebra Finches (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Roxby Downs, SA, June 2022]

Near-dorsal view of a male and female Zebra Finch, plus the pair together (photos courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Bindegolly NP, near Thargomindah, QLD, June 2020]

MALE

Frontal portrait of a male Zebra Finch
[Near Wee Waa, NSW, March 2026]

Frontal view of a male Zebra Finch looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Bindegolly NP, near Thargomindah, QLD, June 2020]

Frontal view of a male Zebra Finch looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Bindegolly NP, near Thargomindah, QLD, June 2020]

Near-frontal view of a male Zebra Finch leaning sideways
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2014]

Near-lateral view of a male Zebra Finch (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[100 km W of Timber Creek, NT, July 2020]

Close-up lateral view of a male Zebra Finch looking towards the observer (photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[Maules Creek, NSW, October 2011]

Lateral view of a male Zebra Finch (photo courtesy of A. Campbell)
[Mount McEuen, QLD, March 2017]

Lateral view of a male Zebra Finch (photo courtesy of A. Campbell)
[Mount McEuen, QLD, June 2017]

Lateral view of a male Zebra Finch
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2008]

Close-up lateral/ventral view of a male Zebra Finch
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2020]

Male Zebra Finch dipping into its bath; Zebra Finches immerse themselves deeply into water, as opposed to Double-barred Finches, who only dip, and then flap their wings to splash themselves wet
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2009]

FEMALE

Near-frontal/ventral view of a female Zebra Finch looking sideways
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2014]

Near-lateral view of a female Zebra Finch looking towards the observer while hiding in a prickly shrub
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2019]

Near-lateral view of a female Zebra Finch (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Goondiwindi, QLD, March 2018]

Lateral view of a female Zebra Finch (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2020]

Lateral view of a female Zebra Finch with its tail cocked; looks about ready to drop a bombshell...
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Coolmunda, near Inglewood, QLD, November 2024]

Lateral view of a female Zebra Finch on a roadside reflector post
[Near Cryon, NSW, March 2022]

Near-dorsal view of a female Zebra Finch
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2020]

Dorsal view of a female Zebra Finch
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2020]

Sex unknown

Near-dorsal view of a small mob of Zebra Finches in flight
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2016]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Close-up lateral view of an immature, probably female, Zebra Finch in the process of developing its characteristic orange bill colour from the juvenile grey form
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2008]

Frontal view of a juvenile Zebra Finch looking sideways
[Near Wee Waa, NSW, February 2023]

Near-frontal view of a juvenile Zebra Finch trying to get rid of that annoying feather stuck to its foot
[Near Wee Waa, NSW, February 2023]

Six juvenile Zebra Finches in a rookery
[Near Moree, NSW, June 2013]

Juvenile Zebra Finch begging dad to be fed (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2021]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Oct - Mar

Eggs: 4 - 6

Incubation period: 12 - 14 days

Fledging age: 21 days

Given the right conditions, Zebra Finches can breed any time of the year.

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Dome

Material: Grass with feather lining

Height above ground: 1 - 5 m

Additional information

A. Morris reports that Zebra Finches like to take advantage of the protection offered by nesting under a Wedge-tailed Eagle or Whistling Kite nest. There is now a separate page about various bird species nesting under the umbrella of a stronger, protective species.

Male Zebra Finch in front of its nest (photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[Maules Creek, NSW, October 2011]

Here the bird is seen entering the nest (photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[Maules Creek, NSW, October 2011]

View of the entrance to a Zebra Finch nest (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[30 km N of Bedourie, QLD, August 2022]

Lateral view of a female Zebra Finch ready to get back into its nest
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2008]

Pair of Zebra Finches building their nest (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Quilpie, QLD, August 2025]

One of two Zebra Finch nests right under an active Brown Falcon nest (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Birdsville Track, SA, September 2022]

Overview of two Zebra Finch nests right under an active Brown Falcon nest (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Birdsville Track, SA, September 2022]

Frontal view of a female Zebra Finch carrying material to line its nest (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Birdsville Track, SA, September 2022]

Frontal view of a male Zebra Finch investigating whether an old babblers' nest (or roosting platform) can be re-used for nesting inside
[Lake Bindegolly NP, near Thargomindah, QLD, June 2019]

Lateral view of a pair of Zebra Finches near their nest; the male is carrying lining material
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2020]

Lateral view of a male Zebra Finch carrying lining material
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2020]

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 16 x 11 mm

Colour: White

Shape: Tapered oval

The nest shown here contained at least five tiny white eggs, most of which are not visible in the photo.

Look into a Zebra Finch nest, with at least one egg visible
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2008]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal

Mobility: Dispersive

Elementary unit: Flock

All species of finches known to us are highly sociable.

A bit of Zebra Finch TLC in the form of allopreening... this type of behaviour is part of a bonding ritual
[Near Cryon, NSW, June 2012]

Zebra Finches can often be found in roadside vegetation (here in the dead stalks of the previous year's population of weeds)
[Near Wee Waa, NSW, August 2012]

Although usually staying low above the ground in shrubs, Zebra Finches can occasionally also be found in trees, in this case 10 m high in a eucalypt
[Near Wee Waa, NSW, November 2016]

Part of a flock of Plum-headed Finches taking a bath in a puddle, together with Zebra Finches (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
[Terry Hie Hie, NSW, February 2014]

Male Zebra Finch dipping into its bath; Zebra Finches immerse themselves deeply into water, as opposed to Double-barred Finches, who only dip, as shown here, and then flap their wings to splash themselves wet
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2009]

Food, Diet

Adults: Seeds

Dependents: Regurgitated seeds

Water intake: Daily

Like all other finches known to us, Zebra Finches feed on seeds. These include grass seeds and seeds of reeds.

Zebra Finches are known to stay close to water, because they need water daily.

Close-up view of 3 female Zebra Finches feeding on grass seeds
[Burren Junction Bore Bath, NSW, July 2023]

Small flock of Zebra Finches feeding by a roadside
[Near Cryon, NSW, June 2012]

Flock of Zebra Finches drinking from a pond
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2009]

Lateral view of two male Zebra Finches drinking from a farm dam
[Near Cameron Corner, in SA, September 2012]

Small mob of Zebra Finches waiting for kangaroos to clear out of an ornamental pond in a garden at a time of severe drought
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2014]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

zebra_20200119_3.m4a	castanotis (NW NSW)	Contact call	© MD
zebra_me_20250808_2.m4a	castanotis (SW QLD)	Contact calls + departure	© ME
zebra_20190318.m4a	castanotis (NW NSW)	? (pair)	© MD
zebra_20200119_2.m4a	castanotis (NW NSW)	Various (flock)	© MD
zebra_20200119.m4a	castanotis (NW NSW)	Various (flock) + departure	© MD
zebra_20241229.m4a	castanotis (NW NSW)	Various (near nest)	© MD
zebra_me_20250808.m4a	castanotis (SW QLD)	Various (+ Rufous Songlark)	© ME

We have also recorded the wing beat of a Zebra Finch.

zebra_20260503.m4a	castanotis (NW NSW)	At a waterhole	© MD
zebra_20190318_2.m4a	castanotis (NW NSW)	Departure (pair)	© MD

More Zebra Finch sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site? If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.