What Is the Natural Habitat for the Zebra Finch?

Zebra finches were originally from central Australia and the islands of Timor, where they still can be seen in the wild today. Pet birds should be kept in conditions similar to the wild in order to keep the birds healthy.

  1. Types

    • Two types of zebra finches are still in the wild. The Australian (Taeniopygia guttata castanotis) is larger and friendlier than the Timor (Taeniopygia guttata guttata).

    Temperature

    • The temperatures of grasslands of Australia or forests of Timor go through mild seasonal changes. According to Animal-World.com, the average temperature of central Australia is 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

    Feeding

    • Native foods for wild zebra finches are mainly seeds, although they do eat some small insects. They also need to eat gritty material like sand in order to help digest their food.

    Space

    • In the wild, zebra finches are constantly on the move, searching for water and seeds. They need to be kept in large aviaries where they can fly.

    Fun Fact

    • According to "The Zebra Finch: A Synthesis of Field and Laboratory Studies," because there is such a lack of water in the Australian grasslands, Australian zebra finches have such efficient digestive systems that they can extract moisture from even seeds.