FINCHforum

From looking at pics and using context clues, I'm guessing it means "mottled" or "spotted'? I get the feeling this is an "undesirable" trait (genetically speaking?)

Just curious!

Thanks for any info you can provide~

What type of finch are you referring to? Society finches are pied and it is not considered a undesirable trait. Zebra finches also can be pied.

a lot of zebas and java sparrows are bred purely for their pied mutation i have pied javas myself both fawn and normal they are just as desirable to some people as the nomal mutations

ken

Hi and thanks!
I was referring to zebras but I must've misunderstood what I read as far as the trait not being desirable. But I still don't know: what does it mean, exactly? "Fawn" isn't the same as "Pied," is it?

Thanks for any info you can provide.

hi marianne
here is a link to most of the zebra mutations including fawn and pied it will enable you to distinguish them

ken

http://www.finchniche.com/o-zebra.mgi

Pied is a term that describes diluted blotches which occur randomly on a bird; in the case of zebras, these blotches are white.

They are also white in society finches, in society finches there are 2 types of pied as far as i know. They are called mottled pied, and saddleback pied. In the mottled pied, which are the ones I have the white occures randonly all over the bird. in the saddleback the white is on most of the bird excluding the very back side of the bird making it look as if it were wearing a saddle.

If I am not mistaken sometimes zebra finches can also be referred to as saddleback pied but not sure. I have not seen any in person.