Is this a male zebra finch?

lstyles · Post by **lstyles** » Fri Oct 07, 2011 9:56 pm

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.

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

nelloyello11 · Post by **nelloyello11** » Fri Oct 07, 2011 11:18 pm

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.

Ria · Post by **Ria** » Sat Oct 08, 2011 1:22 am

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

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

Justin-2-finches · Post by **Justin-2-finches** » Sat Oct 08, 2011 3:07 am

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.

CandoAviary · Post by **CandoAviary** » Sat Oct 08, 2011 9:03 am

I believe it is a hen also, a very stiking one at that

JohnBoy · Post by **JohnBoy** » Sat Oct 08, 2011 8:14 pm

CandoAviary wrote:I believe it is a hen also, a very stiking one at that

I agree

Vargur · Post by **Vargur** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 3:19 pm

yebb, its a hen.

lstyles · Post by **lstyles** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 9:01 pm

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.

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Is this a male zebra finch?

Is this a male zebra finch?

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Re: Is this a male zebra finch?