Instructions
Color Identification
Identify the gender of a zebra finch based on the bird's coloring and markings. Male zebra finches possess a red beak, where females typically have orange. Male finches also typically carry a black bar across the chest, orange on the cheeks and flanks of red and brown. Female zebra finches lack these colorful markings.
Distinguish between male and female Gouldian finches based on the coloring differences of the birds. In the purple-breasted variety of Gouldian finches, the breast of the males are darker than the females. In the white-breasted variety, the male has a circle of blue around his head that is larger and brighter than in the female.
Identify green singers based on their coloring. The males of the species have a higher level of brightness in their colors, and greener coloring is on the chest. The females of the species possess a circle of color around the throat, but their colors are not as bright.
Face Identification
Distinguish between male and female European goldfinches based on their faces. Both genders have a face mask that is bright red, but the mask goes beyond the eyes in males and stops at the eyes for the females of the species.
Examine the head of the Cordon Bleu finch to determine its gender. In the Blue Cap Cordon Bleu, the head is a vivid blue for the male and a brown color for the female. For the Red-Cheeked variety, the cheeks of the male are vivid and red, and the female does not possess such bright colors. The male's body also tends to be a more intense blue color than the females.
Determine the gender of the owl finch based on its face. The bird's face should have a white area, and in males, this white is much brighter and much larger.
Behavior Identification
Distinguish between the male and female Weaver based on behavior during the breeding season. During this season, the males exhibit much brighter colors including blacks, yellows and reds. During the breeding season, the male weavers are responsible for weaving nests, so this can also be used to determine the gender of this type of finch.
Look for the extended tail in the Wydah species to determine the bird's gender. Males extend their tails and exhibit brighter colors during the breeding season. This is the only time when the gender of this bird can be identified by sight.
Determine the gender of other finch species based on their behavior and actions during the breeding season. Different species, including society finches, spice finches, St. Helena waxbills, lavender waxbills and tri color nuns exhibit unique behaviors that make it possible to distinguish the male from the females. For example, males are much more likely to sing than females, and females lay eggs even when they are not fertilized.
How to Distinguish Male or Female Finches
Properly determining the gender of a finch is important for a number of reasons, including for breeding purposes and to choose birds that sing. Physical appearance, behavior and singing are characteristics that may be used to distinguish between male and female finches.