Australian Zebra Finch

1. Black "tear drop" eye stripe and orange-red bill on both sexes

2. Males have chestnut-orange cheek patches and spotted flanks; females have grey faces and lack these markings

3. Black and white barring on the rump and tail, visible in flight

Zebra Finches are highly social and feed mainly on fallen or ripening grass seeds, foraging on the ground. They form lifelong pair bonds, with males collecting nesting material and females building dome-shaped nests in shrubs or small trees. Breeding usually occurs from October to April, but can happen at any time following rainfall that promotes grass growth. Zebra Finches are among the fastest maturing birds, with young able to breed at around 70–80 days old. They require daily access to water and typically visit water sources in the morning and evening

Zebra Finches are found across most of mainland Australia, except for Cape York Peninsula and some coastal regions. They are most abundant in arid and semi-arid areas, gathering in flocks around water sources such as waterholes, dams, and stock troughs. They inhabit dry woodlands, grasslands with scattered trees and shrubs, and areas near watercourses. Their loud nasal "tiah" call is often heard as flocks move between feeding and drinking sites

The Zebra Finch is known as "nyii-nyii" in Pitjantjatjara/Yankunytjatjara and features in Tjukurpa stories and ceremonies of the Aṉangu people in Central Australia[`4`](https://uluru.gov.au/discover/nature/animals/birds/zebra-finch/). The species’ scientific name, *Taeniopygia guttata*, refers to its banded and spotted appearance. Globally, the Zebra Finch is a key model organism in scientific research, especially in studies of behavior, development, and neuroscience.