Male Zebra Finch
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Male Zebra Finch
Hello
I have a male zebra finch that is about 4 years old. He has laid 2 eggs within the last 4 weeks. Is my finch really a female? He/she has all the markings of a male finch. Any thoughts?
Thanks, rasch99
- Fraza
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Re: Male Zebra Finch
rasch99 there’s no other birds in the cage not one at all, only him and can u add a pic as this is very rare
FINCHES I HAVE
Bengalese
zebras
Java sparrows
Silver bills
java x beng hybrid
PETS IVE HAD
dogs
Fish
Cocktiel
Doves
Hybrid cherry x Bengalese
Stars
Heck’s
Canary’s
My favourite is COCO my grey pearl society cock been here since the start my flock leader
YOUTUBE CHANNEL
https://m.youtube.com/results?q=fraser% ... de101&sm=3
Bengalese
zebras
Java sparrows
Silver bills
java x beng hybrid
PETS IVE HAD
dogs
Fish
Cocktiel
Doves
Hybrid cherry x Bengalese
Stars
Heck’s
Canary’s
My favourite is COCO my grey pearl society cock been here since the start my flock leader
YOUTUBE CHANNEL
https://m.youtube.com/results?q=fraser% ... de101&sm=3
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Re: Male Zebra Finch
Yes, I have two zebra finches. One male and one female. I have two cages and they are separated because the male pecks on the female to where she looses all her feathers on her head and back.
There are two eggs in his cage now. I will try and send a pic.
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Re: Male Zebra Finch
rasch99
Do you have a photo of the bird itself? If it's laying eggs, it is definitely a female, or at least has a female reproductive organ.
There is a phenomenon where female birds with low estrogen levels develop male plumage, despite being female. There isn't a ton of information about this, but I read one case where a peahen developed a peacock's plumage after she was spayed: Article
Some animals can be chimeras, with some cells carrying different DNA than others. This is very rare, but there could be a chance that your birds' feathers are made from male cells, while its reproductive tract and other tissues have primarily female cells. "Halfsider" chimeras, where the left and right halves of the bird contain different DNA, are rare. However, other forms of chimerism, such as that described above, are even less documented, although this could be because they aren't as noticeable.
Is your zebra finch black-cheeked or fawn-cheeked? Females of both of these mutations also have cheek patches, so they are sometimes mistaken for males. Female black-cheeks occasionally have smudging on their sides, as well.
Black Cheek Zebra Finch
Fawn Cheek Zebra Finch
Do you have a photo of the bird itself? If it's laying eggs, it is definitely a female, or at least has a female reproductive organ.
There is a phenomenon where female birds with low estrogen levels develop male plumage, despite being female. There isn't a ton of information about this, but I read one case where a peahen developed a peacock's plumage after she was spayed: Article
Some animals can be chimeras, with some cells carrying different DNA than others. This is very rare, but there could be a chance that your birds' feathers are made from male cells, while its reproductive tract and other tissues have primarily female cells. "Halfsider" chimeras, where the left and right halves of the bird contain different DNA, are rare. However, other forms of chimerism, such as that described above, are even less documented, although this could be because they aren't as noticeable.
Is your zebra finch black-cheeked or fawn-cheeked? Females of both of these mutations also have cheek patches, so they are sometimes mistaken for males. Female black-cheeks occasionally have smudging on their sides, as well.
Black Cheek Zebra Finch
Fawn Cheek Zebra Finch
Last edited by Icearstorm on Wed May 30, 2018 2:18 pm, edited 8 times in total.
- Fraza
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Re: Male Zebra Finch
rasch99okay Yh add a picture it’s so crazy haha
FINCHES I HAVE
Bengalese
zebras
Java sparrows
Silver bills
java x beng hybrid
PETS IVE HAD
dogs
Fish
Cocktiel
Doves
Hybrid cherry x Bengalese
Stars
Heck’s
Canary’s
My favourite is COCO my grey pearl society cock been here since the start my flock leader
YOUTUBE CHANNEL
https://m.youtube.com/results?q=fraser% ... de101&sm=3
Bengalese
zebras
Java sparrows
Silver bills
java x beng hybrid
PETS IVE HAD
dogs
Fish
Cocktiel
Doves
Hybrid cherry x Bengalese
Stars
Heck’s
Canary’s
My favourite is COCO my grey pearl society cock been here since the start my flock leader
YOUTUBE CHANNEL
https://m.youtube.com/results?q=fraser% ... de101&sm=3
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- Pip
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Sat May 05, 2018 12:20 pm
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- Weaning
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Re: Male Zebra Finch
rasch99
Huh, that's very odd; it definitely look like a male.
If you're sure that no one is screwing with you and moving the eggs into the male's cage, than it seems like he is actually a she. Looking at the eggs, the right one looks smaller/empty, which is a sign that the female isn't in perfect condition. This would lead me to think that hormones caused the male plumage, although female birds with major hormonal imbalances don't tend to lay eggs.
I'm not an expert on stuff like this by any means, so this is mainly speculative.
Huh, that's very odd; it definitely look like a male.
If you're sure that no one is screwing with you and moving the eggs into the male's cage, than it seems like he is actually a she. Looking at the eggs, the right one looks smaller/empty, which is a sign that the female isn't in perfect condition. This would lead me to think that hormones caused the male plumage, although female birds with major hormonal imbalances don't tend to lay eggs.
I'm not an expert on stuff like this by any means, so this is mainly speculative.
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Re: Male Zebra Finch
Yes, very odd. Although I need to mention that he/she has laid eggs previously. One or two the previous year, then nothing until this past month. Our female has laid one egg before as well. Both are alone in their cages. Such an anomaly, but we love them both. They give us much joy with their singing and just watching them. Thanks for responding.
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Re: Male Zebra Finch
rasch99 wait so both of them sing aswell that is so weird so the female looking one sings aswell
And is their cages together, like a breeding cage maybe were she is slipping in
And is their cages together, like a breeding cage maybe were she is slipping in
FINCHES I HAVE
Bengalese
zebras
Java sparrows
Silver bills
java x beng hybrid
PETS IVE HAD
dogs
Fish
Cocktiel
Doves
Hybrid cherry x Bengalese
Stars
Heck’s
Canary’s
My favourite is COCO my grey pearl society cock been here since the start my flock leader
YOUTUBE CHANNEL
https://m.youtube.com/results?q=fraser% ... de101&sm=3
Bengalese
zebras
Java sparrows
Silver bills
java x beng hybrid
PETS IVE HAD
dogs
Fish
Cocktiel
Doves
Hybrid cherry x Bengalese
Stars
Heck’s
Canary’s
My favourite is COCO my grey pearl society cock been here since the start my flock leader
YOUTUBE CHANNEL
https://m.youtube.com/results?q=fraser% ... de101&sm=3
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- Pip
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Sat May 05, 2018 12:20 pm
- Fraza
- Molting
- Posts: 3700
- Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2017 12:16 pm
- Location: UK
Re: Male Zebra Finch
rasch99 okay Yh I was just asking I find it really weird But atkeast on the bright side u have an special finch
FINCHES I HAVE
Bengalese
zebras
Java sparrows
Silver bills
java x beng hybrid
PETS IVE HAD
dogs
Fish
Cocktiel
Doves
Hybrid cherry x Bengalese
Stars
Heck’s
Canary’s
My favourite is COCO my grey pearl society cock been here since the start my flock leader
YOUTUBE CHANNEL
https://m.youtube.com/results?q=fraser% ... de101&sm=3
Bengalese
zebras
Java sparrows
Silver bills
java x beng hybrid
PETS IVE HAD
dogs
Fish
Cocktiel
Doves
Hybrid cherry x Bengalese
Stars
Heck’s
Canary’s
My favourite is COCO my grey pearl society cock been here since the start my flock leader
YOUTUBE CHANNEL
https://m.youtube.com/results?q=fraser% ... de101&sm=3
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- Pip
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Sat May 05, 2018 12:20 pm
Re: Male Zebra Finch
Yes Fraza, I do have a special finch. Thanks for responding.
- Fraza
- Molting
- Posts: 3700
- Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2017 12:16 pm
- Location: UK
Re: Male Zebra Finch
Haha yep !!!
FINCHES I HAVE
Bengalese
zebras
Java sparrows
Silver bills
java x beng hybrid
PETS IVE HAD
dogs
Fish
Cocktiel
Doves
Hybrid cherry x Bengalese
Stars
Heck’s
Canary’s
My favourite is COCO my grey pearl society cock been here since the start my flock leader
YOUTUBE CHANNEL
https://m.youtube.com/results?q=fraser% ... de101&sm=3
Bengalese
zebras
Java sparrows
Silver bills
java x beng hybrid
PETS IVE HAD
dogs
Fish
Cocktiel
Doves
Hybrid cherry x Bengalese
Stars
Heck’s
Canary’s
My favourite is COCO my grey pearl society cock been here since the start my flock leader
YOUTUBE CHANNEL
https://m.youtube.com/results?q=fraser% ... de101&sm=3