FINCHforum

Yesterday I picked up a gorgeous male zebra from a really nice gentleman. Boy o boy did he have some beautiful birds. All of his birds looked happy,healthy and wonderfully maintained as to where I decided to forgo quarintine. Shy Pie has also been on her own for so long that She deserved a friend. I ended up trading a recently acquired male for him so it worked out well for us both.

His name is Shy Guy as he is a tad shy himself and darn hard to photograph but I managed to get a few shots for you all which I will add in the comments as they are on my other device. Shy Pie and him took to each other quickly. Boy is she giving him a good run, she has been teasing and flirting with him like crazy. Earlier they had a few beak sparing sessions but as of now are cuddled up for bed together and he is preening her.

He didn't start singing until mid day today and let me tell you it is a strange song, its almost like a screech. I wonder if he picked the sounds up from the other birds the fellow had. He had a pair of GB's, a pair of owl finches, 8 or so zebra's, and a giant white and pink crested bird that talked.

Well I guess I should stop rambling and switch devices. My guess at his genetics, BC,light back, pied. I'm only adding the pied as I think his tail feathers may indicate it. Please feel free to correct me or add your thoughts. Adding pictures after this is posted..

Trisha

Here's my handsome boy

And one from the front

Arama

Congratulations Trisha.

He is a lovely looking fella. Definitely black cheek. As to the rest of it, let our mutations experts figure that out.

I like Shy Pie and Shy Guy, sounds cute.

As to his song... uhemmm.... some of my guys have a tolerable song, others sound like a rusty clothes line. They tend to pick up their songs from their fathers, if I remember right.

Good luck and best wishes to the young couple

~Elana~

Arama Beautiful birds! Any plans to breed them? I am not familiar with different varieties of zebra finches but yours are lovely.
Mary

Teagarden Thank you, I do plan to breed them but I will be scooping eggs until July(when they come) as I'm going on a trip for a week or two. I have someone who will come in once a day and change food/water. I'm pretty excited for the feather babies they will hopefully produce.

Trisha

Best of luck breeding & have a great trip.
Mary

Arama He is a BEAUT!! Not sure of the mutation either. but he is gorgeous. It's funny you say that about his song, as my 3 males all sound VERY similar to their father, maybe a note or two off, and sometimes add a llittle something extra, but the baby (i believe it's him) just started doing this thing... that it's kind of like a screech... but it's a screech with different notes, NOT like his father AT ALL!!!! It's tolerable, and I'm proud Mama so to me it's cute, but it is VERY strange, as I don't know where he could have picked it up... lol But congrats on the new babe, he is something else!! I could look at him all day!!! Oh, and have a nice Trip!!!

lovezebs In love so range

I figured out why his song sounds so weird. He sounds like flipper the dolphin

He is a Black cheek split to the recessive gene for black breast.... BC/bb

see the hourglass shaped marker in the white of the tail feathers, other makers can include elongated flank spots, notches in the tail bars, elongated or irregular large cheek patches. Not all birds carrying split to recessive genes will show all the visible markers, some show a few, one or even none at all.

cindy Thank you! I'm not that great with genetics so I assumed the large amounts of white indicated pied. Its exciting to find out he's recessive for Bb. I totally see the hour glass shape you mentioned. I'm sure you hear this a lot but your knowledge of genetics is incredible.

Trisha

Arama I was just wondering, how long was your girl on her own before you got Shy Guy for her? I had 2 boys until Friday but one of them has passed away and I'm worried about the welfare of Moody now that he's on his own.

Kind regards,

Alison.

alisonmurphy88 she was alone for a couple of months.