Help with ID'ing This Zebra Finch?

[4zeebirds]

Hi,

We have had this little girl for about 8 weeks. She has been molting the last couple of weeks. Her feathers are coming in with white spots here and there - more as time goes. Hopefully, I can get these photos done right. Most of the spots are on the nape of her neck and head, some down her back. I know she has slight barring on her chest, but she is a girl. No song, rump is not white, but that pretty beige color.

I think she is split for pied. Or does this count as pied?

[Jeff McKee]

Hang onto the bird for a while. A few more months for sure. The answers to your questions will become more clear.

I recently almost allows a black face to escape my collection. That would have made me sad! Very clearly now, this bird is black face, but it took some time for the final plumage to settle in with superior distinction.

Your 'zebra' effect on the chest has me slightly puzzled. Generally the females don't have that 'zebra' effect. Chest feathers tend to be 'smudgy' if they're dark. This is considered a 'fault' for show birds. Cheek patches should distinguish soon, if it's a male. No chest bars though. I do have one 'Florida Fancy' male without chest bars.

I'm guessing there's a good chance the pied distinguishes itself with clarity over time, if it is.

[DanteD716]

Does not look pied to me. If she was split pied it would show in flight feathers and head. It looks like those feathers may have been plucked and they grow in like that afterwards. It also looks like a male.

[4zeebirds]

Thanks Jeff and Dante,

I have read that fem zebra finches can show some male markings and yes, that would be a fault. I'm not sure I would want to breed her. And I agree and do think I would hang on to her awhile.

She came to us gray and has not been with any other bird here, so any plucking would have happened before and I just didn't notice it.

She does not sing and the male bird in the cage next to her wishes she would move in. His mate doesn't like that idea! Even the very young male across the room from her is trying out his song - so I still think female. But, I could be wrong. When we moved her for a little while because of space issues she and that male z-bird I mentioned called back and forth alot. Sheez - and I thought figuring out budgie mutations was tough.

[LuxandLolita]

She looks to be a little boy to me! those chest feathers are to distinct to be black breasted or even split, her tear is pretty normal..

If this is a female, i honestly will be bewildered. i have never seen a female with such distinct chest bars.i think You have a male

[cindy]

Hi....may I ask that you post a picture of the face, teat bars and chest area....a single picture of those are would help a bit more.

Depending on the mutation it can take a bit for the cheeks to come in if it is a male.

The white flecking though the body can be on some birds a result of heavy plucking often while the chick is in the nest. The plucking would have to be pretty severe and bloody to create a lasting effect. It could be lightly pied. The splits to pieds usually show it in the wings edges, under the troat and top of the head.

I want to say this is a male but can't be 100% sure.

[4zeebirds]

Cindy - Here are a couple of pics. I've posted one of the rump/tail in case that would help (actually that one didn't come out quite like I wanted - I wanted to show the white spot in her left wing). Actually the bars were noticed about 4 or 5 weeks ago and he/she hasn't gained any more since then. And I just noticed that the photo shows a bit of black in the cheek and in person it does not show.

[cindy]

the long buff white feathering that runs down the tail, I assume that if this is on the other side as well like in the tail photos on
http://www.efinch.com/species/bbzeb.htm
the tail on the left of the photo

This may be a BB that may be split to other mutations but the tail looks like it could be BB

The mutations take a bit to color out completely. If you don't mind I am going to pm Vargur and ask if she can take a look, she is spot on about mutations....can you get a full shot of the tail for us?

[4zeebirds]

Cindy - I hope these help.

And thanks!

[cindy]

Ok...now I am puzzled....does this bird sing?

[LuxandLolita]

Is it possible....hermaphrodite?!
I know pied makes adult colors come in slower...but she does not even look split to pied.

Honestly, i would spend the 15 dollars to get her blood tested O.O!

[Chrismurdoch3]

Here is a pic of one of my females that has some black barring on her chest. So it could be a female with some male markings but from your pictures i would guess that it is a male molting into his adult plumage only time will tell right.

[cindy]

I thought about your little bird today....now this is an "if"....if this is a male and lightly pied but missng the cheeks and flanks but has the throat bars there is only one combinations I know of that removes the orange from a male and that is the combination of pied and penguin.

The finch could be a male pied split to penguin. Just a guess.

If this is a female, the throat bars are puzzling me...perhaps Vargur can weigh in. I pm'd her and asked her to take a look.

[4zeebirds]

Cindy - No song. Even our 7 week old baby zebra is trying out his song - so that is why I think this is a female. When we first brought it home and it was separate from our other birds it would call ("beep") out to the others, but never heard a song. I have stood there many times during a day try to catch him/her singing.

Kaite - She/he is more confusing as time goes on!

[4zeebirds]

Here is a pic of one of my females that has some black barring on her chest. So it could be a female with some male markings but from your pictures i would guess that it is a male molting into his adult plumage only time will tell right.

Hi - its beginning to look like lots of time! Thanks for the posting the pics of your bird by the way.