Zebra Finch Facts

Zebra finches have been a popular pet bird for over 100 years, writes Hans-Jurgen Martin in Barron's "Zebra Finches." These are gray and brown finches with bright orange beaks, although many other colors including white can be found in pet stores.

  1. Natural Habitat

    • Zebra finches come from Australia and are found abundantly in most regions. They tend to stay in dry grassland habitats.

    Diet

    • Wild zebra finches eat mostly grass seeds before they ripen, some insects and plant leaves. Martin recommends feeding pet zebra finches a variety of dry seeds, sprouted seeds, fruits and natural plants such as dandelion weeds and yarrow.

    Behavior

    • Gregarious and active are words usually used to describe the zebra finch, both in the wild and as a pet. To keep these birds happy and healthy as pets, Martin recommends always keeping at least two zebra finches together in a cage that is not less than 28 inches in length.