"New species" of Zebra Finch! ;-)

[w.l.]

I have just noticed that the HBW, pretty much considered a standard work in ornithology these days, has finally split the Zebra Finch into two separate species.
Somewhat confusingly, the more obscure little Timor Zebra Finch now wears the old Latin name T. guttata, the far more familiar Australian Zebra now called T. castenotas.

http://www.hbw.com/species/timor-zebra- ... a#Taxonomy

http://www.hbw.com/species/australian-z ... s#Taxonomy

I personally have mixed feeling about this split (as the 2 "species" are quite similar and can crossbreed and produce fertile offspring) and am curious how long it will take for the new name of the AU Zebra to be commonly used in aviculture.

As a postive effect of the split, the till now largely ignored Timor Zebra Finch may receive a bit more attention from aviculturists in the future.

[lovezebs]

w.l.

I have never seen a Timor Zebra in real life.
In pictures, they appear to be considerably smaller than their Ausie counterparts.

Do you happen to have some of both species?

[w.l.]

I only have Timors.
They are certainly smaller than AU zebras and have a faster, sharper song.
They should be available in the US, at least there are several websites talking about breeding them there.

[lovezebs]

w.l.

Maybe they have them in the States, but haven't seen them up here in Canada yet.

I wonder if their personalities are the same as the Ausies.

[w.l.]

Nope, different.
They are much livelier, but also less aggressive, more suited for mixed aviaries with small birds like waxbills.
Get some!