Conference 7.286::pet_birds

466.0. "Zebra finches - colours, genetics, etc." by MEIS::TILLSON (Sugar Magnolia) Fri Dec 07 1990 19:27

I'm writing this from the top of my head (reference books not at work), so some
of the following may be lacking in the sort of detail that the show standards
have...now, with that disclaimer:

Zebra Finch Colours:

Grey
____

Also called "normal" or "wild".  This is the colour that most zebras in the
wild (Australian grasslands) exhibit.  The male is a 4" long bird.  The head,
mantle and wings are dark gray.  The tail is black with white bars.  Feet and
beak red.  Eyes are dark.  There is a black tear-stain on the face, running
down the cheek to the chin.  The bird has round cheek spotsthat are bright
orange in colour.  There is a broad band of several black and white stripes
(hence the name "zebra") running from the cheek, across the chest, to the other
cheek.  The flanks (the side of the bird, just under the wing) are a chestnut
colur, and have white spots. The underside of the bird is white, in some cases
shading to fawn near the vent.  The undertail coverts are white or fawn.

The female bird lacks the cheek patchs, the chest stripes, and the spotted
chestnut flanks, but retains the tear mark on the face and the striped tail. 
Otherwise coloured to match the male bird.

Grey Penguin
____________


The cheek patchs, tear marks, and chest striping are missing, and are replaced
with white.  All other markings the same. Female penguins look like the males,
but are missing the chestnut flanks that the males have retained.

Grey Pied
_________


Colour and markings as appropriate for the colour, both male and female, but
broken up by patches of white.  An ideal pied has approximately 50% of its
colour replaced by white, in an attractive, symmetrical pattern.

{Grey or "wild" colour is genetically dominant, except where otherwise noted.}


All-White
_________

This is the only zebra colour where the male and female birds are not obviously
differently marked.  Both are completely white, with dark eyes, red beak, and
pink feet.  The male's beak will be slightly redder and slightly larger.  This
is a pseudo-albino rather than a true albino because of the dark eyes.  There
are no known true albino zebras.
Genetically recessive.

Fawn
____

Marked as for normals, but the gray is replaced by fawn (beige).  Chest stripes
and tail bars tend to be more of a dark brown than black. Dark eyes, red beak,
pink feet. Available in penguin and pied varieties.
Genetically sex-linked recessive.

Cream
_____

Also called dilute fawn.  Like fawn, but a lighter, almost white shade of
beige.  Dark eyes, red beak, pink feet.  Available in penguin and pied
varieties. 
Two genetic forms: recessive cream (babies start out with red eyes that darken
with age) and dominant cream (which is also dominant to normal and silver).


Silver
______

Also known as dilute normal. Colour and markings as for normal, but the dark
gray is replaced with a lighter silvery gray. Available in penguin and pied
varieties.  Dark eyes, red beak and feet.  
Genetically dominant to normal and to recessives, recessive to dominant cream.  


Blue
____

As for normal, but the dark grey is replaces with a blue-ish gray. Dark eyes,
red beak and feet. Available in penguin and pied.
I'm uncertain about how this colour works genetically.


Chestnut-Flanked White
______________________

Also called marked white.  Normal markings on a pure white bird.  Dark chest
striping, fawn tail striping, pale orange cheek spots, dark tear mark, dark
eyes, red beak, pink feet.  Female has fawn tail striping and dark tear mark
which distinguishes her from the all-white female. {This is perhaps my favorite
variety :-}
Genetically sex-linked recessive.


Orange-Breasted
_______________

Identical to normal, except that the chest striping is replaced by a solid band
of orange.  Female identical to normal female.
I don't know how this works genetically.


Black-Breasted
_______________

Identical to normal, except chest striping is replaced by a band of solid
black.  Female identical to normal female.
I don't know how this works genetically.


Phaio
_____

Like fawn, but the dark brown chest striping and tail striping is replaced with
fawn striping.  May be available in penguin and pied (?)
I don't know how this works genetically.

Florida Fancy
_____________

A pure white bird with bright orange cheek patches.  Female identical to the
all-white female.
I don't know how this works genetically.

    
    
    (Next installment - basic zebra genetics; coming soon to a notesfile
     near you!)