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Is this a male zebra finch?

Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2011 9:56 pm
by lstyles
I obtained this zebra finch and was told it was a female. It looked like a female at first glance because of lack of breast bar and cheek patches. When I paired it with another male zebra it has not bred at all and no eggs. Its beak is quite dark orange and I had heard that sometimes FF males don't show breast bar so I began to think maybe it is a /FF male.
Image
This bird's mother was a black cheek Eumo CFW and the father was a Black cheek Phaeo split for Eumo (at least that is what I was told). It is curious because the bird should be BC because both parents are BC. It doesnt have a cheek patch. It doesn't have a tear either which I attributed to the FF from the Phaeo father.
What do you all think?
thanks,
Lori

Re: Is this a male zebra finch?

Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2011 11:18 pm
by nelloyello11
Wow, that's a puzzler, Lori. So many mutations coming into play. I get genetics, and I can't quite wrap my head around it.
I do vaguely remember reading somewhere about some combination that could produce males with no cheek patches or breast bars. But I cannot recall what it was...
BUT that beak does look pretty dark to be a hen.

Re: Is this a male zebra finch?

Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 1:22 am
by Ria
Females can have dark beaks too, that's not always a reliable indicator. it may be the lighting in your pic, but does the bird have any flank spots? seems to me like a shadow of them.

Not laying eggs doesn't mean it's not female - the bird may not be in breeding mode. though with zebras, that won't last long :roll:

Best way to know - does s/he sing? males sing their 'tin trumpet' song, females will only beep.

Re: Is this a male zebra finch?

Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 3:07 am
by Justin-2-finches
It looks like a BC,BB hen to me....
i know that when you combine the BC with FF and fawn you lose the cheek patches but the FF makes the whole body go white, i have no experience with the Eumo variety though so not sure about that.

Re: Is this a male zebra finch?

Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 9:03 am
by CandoAviary
I believe it is a hen also, a very stiking one at that :D

Re: Is this a male zebra finch?

Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 8:14 pm
by JohnBoy
CandoAviary wrote:I believe it is a hen also, a very stiking one at that :D
I agree

Re: Is this a male zebra finch?

Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2011 3:19 pm
by Vargur
yebb, its a hen.

Re: Is this a male zebra finch?

Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2011 9:01 pm
by lstyles
Ok. Well then I am going to pair it with a different male since nothing has happened in 1 month. We will see what comes of a mating with a FF male.