What type of zebra finch. Can any experts help?

[Marvin]

I've just had this fledgling appear and was wondering about its unusual colour. Its parents are a CF male and a beige female but the black cheeks look a bit different on this one.

Please could anyone help?

Thank you.

[Ameza]

I am not sure what your question is.

Do all the chicks have black cheek or just this one? Or does this one have different black cheek from the other ones?

I don't really make out the bird's colour very well from this photo, looks like the normal fledgeling colour, though his belly seems rather white. And you often can't tell the colours until they start getting into their adult feathers.

So maybe a better picture? But from what I can see on this one it looks like a typical BC chick.

[Marvin]

Thanks for the reply. Really sorry the question was a bit vague!

I was just wondering if it is a black cheeked zebra, as I have about 50 birds but no black cheeks until this brood appeared, which contains three very similar birds.

All three are very light coloured with dark black cheek patches, I was thinking you needed black cheek parents to produce black cheek offspring.

Hope this makes more sense.

[Raleighwheels]

Perhaps both of the parents have the mutation somewhere in their genes?

[Ameza]

Ok, no problem.

Zebra finches are known to hide genes very well, and both parents probably (well must really) have the black cheek gene in them. The chicks also might be lighter because of some other genes, LB, CFW and so on.


I have to say that I find the black cheek aspect so beautiful with lighter mutations like lightback. http://efinch.com/birdpix/lbbc.jpg

*drooool* wish I could get my hands on a bird like that

[Marvin]

Thank you for your help on this! I didn't know about hiding genes, I've bred the parents and their parents too so its a big surprise to see three black cheeks show up.

I'm so much hoping they may turn out like the beautiful bird on your link, one in particular has very light coloured juvenile feathers.

Thanks again for the replies, they are very much appreciated.

[Marvin]

Just in case anyone was interested, the photo below is how the juvenile above ended up!

[lovemyfinch]

He turned out absolutely stunning.

[Marvin]

Thank you, there are three birds like this in the aviary, must be a hidden gene as I have never had any black cheeked zebbies! The lady finches really seem to like them!

[L in Ontario]

Beautiful boys there!

[Ameza]

So beautiful

[Queen_Bee]

Gorgeous! Those were some lucky genes!!

[soloisok]

Beautiful!

[cindy]

I have black cheek..they are some of the sweetest zebras. He is very handsome.

[CandoAviary]

Very beautiful zebra!!!! I have a clutch that has a chick that looks just like it, along with a solid white one and a white one with grey saddle markings and a normal looking..... talk about both ends of the spectrum....I love the hidden genes that pop out