Poephila guttata
Range
They live throughout the mainland of Australia.
Habitat
They are found on most types of dry grassland and agricultural lands.
Body Traits
They are medium-sized finches, with bright plumage (feather patterns). Their head and back are grey-brown and with light brown ear patches. Their throat, neck and upper breast are pale grey with fine black stripes (bars). Their lower breast has a broad black bar. Their sides are dark brown with white spots. Their tail cover feathers are striped (barred) black and white. Their legs are orange and their eyes and bill are red. Females look like males but don’t have the black stripes (barring) on their breast. Their throat, breast, belly and bill are pale.
Habits
Zebra finches search mostly on the ground for food. They mate for life and live in large flocks.
Diet
They eat seeds and insects.
Reproduction
They breed whenever there is rain. They build a dome-shaped, grass nest on a low branch or bush. Females lay 4 -7 white eggs. Both care for the eggs and young.
Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Estrildidae
Genus: Taeniopygia
Species: T. guttata