"Information and advice to help you take good care of your Zebra Finch."--Back cover.

Are you a finch lover? This plain-English guide explains the different species and helps you prepare to bring a finch home, with expert advice on everything from housing and feeding to health care and hand taming. You'll also see how to spot a sick finch, handle emergencies, and keep your finch calm and content.

The Australian Zebra Finch is widely used by researchers and teachers in many scientific disciplines where it is the preferred subject for investigations ranging from anatomy and physiology to behavioural development and evolutionary ecology. This monograph is the first to synthesize the information on this colourful species that has accumulated during the past thirty years. It summarizes and integrates much of the laboratory work and places it in the context of the biology of the animals in the wild, with an emphasis on behaviour and ecology. This leads to a detailed understanding of Zebra Finch adaptations and life history that will further enhance the value of the species for researchers and students in behaviour, ecology, and other fields. Aviculturists who keep these attractive birds will also find much of interest in this book.

It is not surprising that Australian grassfinches are highly popular with ornithologists and aviculturists, for included among the species are one of the most beautiful of all birds – the Gouldian Finch Erythrura gouldiae – and one of the most familiar cagebirds – the Zebra Finch Taeniopygia guttata. Despite a scarcity in published works on finches, interest in the species is growing, leading to a dramatic advancement in our knowledge of many species. For example, we have gained new information from field observations carried out on little-known species, including the Blue-faced Parrot-Finch Erythrura trichroa and the Red-eared Firetail Stagonopleura oculata. Significant advances in taxonomic research, largely as a consequence of the development and refinement of biochemical analyses, often involving DNA-DNA hybridisation, have given us a new insight into relationships among species, with some unexpected alliances being determined. Additionally, dramatic changes have taken place in avicultural practices, and in virtually all countries aviculture has taken on a new professional approach, with the most notable results being increased productivity and success with a wider variety of species. After a lapse of almost half a century since publication of Klaus Immelmann’s eminent work on finches, based on extensive field studies, the time has come for a new examination of Australian grassfinches. In Grassfinches in Australia, Joseph Forshaw, Mark Shephard and Anthony Pridham have summarised our present knowledge of each species, and have given readers a visual appreciation of the birds in their natural habitats and in aviculture. The resulting combination of superb artwork and scientifically accurate text ensures that this volume will become the standard reference work on Australian grassfinches. In addition to enabling aviculturists to know more about these finches in the wild as a guide to their own husbandry techniques, detailed information on current management practices for all species in captivity is provided. The book also includes colour plates depicting some of the more common mutations held in Australian and overseas collections.

This exciting and beautifully photographed Zebra Finch book contains valuable and authoritative information in a sensible and easy-to-read style.

Zebra finches are amongst the most popular pet birds that are readily available. If you are looking for a no fuss pet, the Zebra finch may be a perfect option for you. These birds can be tamed very well, albeit not easily. Once you have formed a bond with your bird, be prepared for a lot of singing and physical interaction. These birds are extremely entertaining and make wonderful pets. Care for Zebra finches is pretty straight forward. If you provide them with a good housing facility and the right diet, they will stay pretty much healthy. With this book, you will learn everything about the Zebra finch from the feeding requirements, tips to keep them active and physically fit, breeding these birds, the common health problems they may face and a lot more. Covered in this book: -Bonding activities -Buying -Care -Feeding -Habitat -Health -Housing -Pros and Cons -Travelling -Varieties ....and much more