Male Zebra Finch

For "miscellaneous" finch-related questions.
Post Reply
rasch99
Pip
Pip
Posts: 7
Joined: Sat May 05, 2018 12:20 pm

Male Zebra Finch

Post by rasch99 » Wed May 30, 2018 9:23 am


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

User avatar
Fraza
Molting
Molting
Posts: 3700
Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2017 12:16 pm
Location: UK

Re: Male Zebra Finch

Post by Fraza » Wed May 30, 2018 1:05 pm

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
FINCHES I HAVE
Bengalese
zebras
Java sparrows
Silver bills
java x beng hybrid



PETS IVE HAD
dogs
Fish
Cocktiel
Doves
Hybrid cherry x Bengalese
Stars
Heck’s
Canary’s

My favourite is COCO my grey pearl society cock been here since the start my flock leader


YOUTUBE CHANNEL
https://m.youtube.com/results?q=fraser% ... de101&sm=3

rasch99
Pip
Pip
Posts: 7
Joined: Sat May 05, 2018 12:20 pm

Re: Male Zebra Finch

Post by rasch99 » Wed May 30, 2018 1:11 pm


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.

rasch99
Pip
Pip
Posts: 7
Joined: Sat May 05, 2018 12:20 pm

Re: Male Zebra Finch

Post by rasch99 » Wed May 30, 2018 1:38 pm

1140
These are the eggs my male finch has laid.

Icearstorm
Weaning
Weaning
Posts: 1612
Joined: Thu Sep 01, 2016 5:21 pm

Re: Male Zebra Finch

Post by Icearstorm » Wed May 30, 2018 1:58 pm

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
Last edited by Icearstorm on Wed May 30, 2018 2:18 pm, edited 8 times in total.

User avatar
Fraza
Molting
Molting
Posts: 3700
Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2017 12:16 pm
Location: UK

Re: Male Zebra Finch

Post by Fraza » Wed May 30, 2018 1:58 pm

rasch99okay Yh add a picture it’s so crazy haha
FINCHES I HAVE
Bengalese
zebras
Java sparrows
Silver bills
java x beng hybrid



PETS IVE HAD
dogs
Fish
Cocktiel
Doves
Hybrid cherry x Bengalese
Stars
Heck’s
Canary’s

My favourite is COCO my grey pearl society cock been here since the start my flock leader


YOUTUBE CHANNEL
https://m.youtube.com/results?q=fraser% ... de101&sm=3

rasch99
Pip
Pip
Posts: 7
Joined: Sat May 05, 2018 12:20 pm

Re: Male Zebra Finch

Post by rasch99 » Wed May 30, 2018 2:15 pm

Icearstorm, here is the picture of my male zebra finch.
1141

Icearstorm
Weaning
Weaning
Posts: 1612
Joined: Thu Sep 01, 2016 5:21 pm

Re: Male Zebra Finch

Post by Icearstorm » Wed May 30, 2018 2:28 pm

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.

rasch99
Pip
Pip
Posts: 7
Joined: Sat May 05, 2018 12:20 pm

Re: Male Zebra Finch

Post by rasch99 » Wed May 30, 2018 2:34 pm

:lol: 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.

User avatar
Fraza
Molting
Molting
Posts: 3700
Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2017 12:16 pm
Location: UK

Re: Male Zebra Finch

Post by Fraza » Wed May 30, 2018 3:57 pm

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
FINCHES I HAVE
Bengalese
zebras
Java sparrows
Silver bills
java x beng hybrid



PETS IVE HAD
dogs
Fish
Cocktiel
Doves
Hybrid cherry x Bengalese
Stars
Heck’s
Canary’s

My favourite is COCO my grey pearl society cock been here since the start my flock leader


YOUTUBE CHANNEL
https://m.youtube.com/results?q=fraser% ... de101&sm=3

rasch99
Pip
Pip
Posts: 7
Joined: Sat May 05, 2018 12:20 pm

Re: Male Zebra Finch

Post by rasch99 » Wed May 30, 2018 11:12 pm

1142
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.

User avatar
Fraza
Molting
Molting
Posts: 3700
Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2017 12:16 pm
Location: UK

Re: Male Zebra Finch

Post by Fraza » Thu May 31, 2018 8:21 am

rasch99 okay Yh I was just asking I find it really weird But atkeast on the bright side u have an special finch
FINCHES I HAVE
Bengalese
zebras
Java sparrows
Silver bills
java x beng hybrid



PETS IVE HAD
dogs
Fish
Cocktiel
Doves
Hybrid cherry x Bengalese
Stars
Heck’s
Canary’s

My favourite is COCO my grey pearl society cock been here since the start my flock leader


YOUTUBE CHANNEL
https://m.youtube.com/results?q=fraser% ... de101&sm=3

rasch99
Pip
Pip
Posts: 7
Joined: Sat May 05, 2018 12:20 pm

Re: Male Zebra Finch

Post by rasch99 » Thu May 31, 2018 9:06 am

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

User avatar
Fraza
Molting
Molting
Posts: 3700
Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2017 12:16 pm
Location: UK

Re: Male Zebra Finch

Post by Fraza » Thu May 31, 2018 12:23 pm

Haha yep !!!
FINCHES I HAVE
Bengalese
zebras
Java sparrows
Silver bills
java x beng hybrid



PETS IVE HAD
dogs
Fish
Cocktiel
Doves
Hybrid cherry x Bengalese
Stars
Heck’s
Canary’s

My favourite is COCO my grey pearl society cock been here since the start my flock leader


YOUTUBE CHANNEL
https://m.youtube.com/results?q=fraser% ... de101&sm=3

Post Reply