FINCHforum

Hello
I have a male zebra finch that is about 4 years old. He has laid 2 eggs within the last 4 weeks. Is my finch really a female? He/she has all the markings of a male finch. Any thoughts?
Thanks, rasch99

rasch99 there’s no other birds in the cage not one at all, only him and can u add a pic as this is very rare

Yes, I have two zebra finches. One male and one female. I have two cages and they are separated because the male pecks on the female to where she looses all her feathers on her head and back.
There are two eggs in his cage now. I will try and send a pic.

These are the eggs my male finch has laid.

rasch99

Do you have a photo of the bird itself? If it's laying eggs, it is definitely a female, or at least has a female reproductive organ.

There is a phenomenon where female birds with low estrogen levels develop male plumage, despite being female. There isn't a ton of information about this, but I read one case where a peahen developed a peacock's plumage after she was spayed: Article

Some animals can be chimeras, with some cells carrying different DNA than others. This is very rare, but there could be a chance that your birds' feathers are made from male cells, while its reproductive tract and other tissues have primarily female cells. "Halfsider" chimeras, where the left and right halves of the bird contain different DNA, are rare. However, other forms of chimerism, such as that described above, are even less documented, although this could be because they aren't as noticeable.

Is your zebra finch black-cheeked or fawn-cheeked? Females of both of these mutations also have cheek patches, so they are sometimes mistaken for males. Female black-cheeks occasionally have smudging on their sides, as well.
Black Cheek Zebra Finch
Fawn Cheek Zebra Finch

rasch99okay Yh add a picture it’s so crazy haha

Icearstorm, here is the picture of my male zebra finch.

rasch99

Huh, that's very odd; it definitely look like a male.

If you're sure that no one is screwing with you and moving the eggs into the male's cage, than it seems like he is actually a she. Looking at the eggs, the right one looks smaller/empty, which is a sign that the female isn't in perfect condition. This would lead me to think that hormones caused the male plumage, although female birds with major hormonal imbalances don't tend to lay eggs.

I'm not an expert on stuff like this by any means, so this is mainly speculative.

Yes, very odd. Although I need to mention that he/she has laid eggs previously. One or two the previous year, then nothing until this past month. Our female has laid one egg before as well. Both are alone in their cages. Such an anomaly, but we love them both. They give us much joy with their singing and just watching them. Thanks for responding.

rasch99 wait so both of them sing aswell that is so weird so the female looking one sings aswell

And is their cages together, like a breeding cage maybe were she is slipping in

Fraza, well the one that looks like a male sings a lot. The other white one sings but sounds different. Each have their own cage. See picture.

rasch99 okay Yh I was just asking I find it really weird But atkeast on the bright side u have an special finch

Yes Fraza, I do have a special finch. Thanks for responding.

Haha yep !!!