This is due to a developmental difference, where in the embryo, the male Zebra Finch produces estrogen, which is transformed into a testosterone-like hormone in the brain, which in turn leads to the nervous development of a song system. Male Zebra Finches begin to sing at puberty while females lack a singing ability. Scientific research at Japan's RIKEN institute has suggested that singing to females is an emotionally rewarding experience for male Zebra Finches. Songs may change during puberty, but afterwards they are locked in for the life of the bird. Sons generally learn the song of their father with little variation. Each male's song is different, although birds of the same bloodline will exhibit similarities, and all finches will overlay their own uniqueness onto a common rhythmic framework. Their song is a few small beeps, leading up to a rhythmic song of varying complexity in males. Their call can be a loud 'beep', 'meep', 'oi!' or 'a-ha!', sounding something like a toy trumpet or the buttons on a phone being pushed. Zebra Finches are loud and boisterous singers. castanotis as well as having small breast bands. guttata males do not have the fine barring found on the throat and upper breast of T.g. Taeniopygia guttata guttata is smaller than Taeniopygia guttata castanotis.

The morphological differences between the sub-species include differences in size. The Australian race is sometimes split as Chestnut-eared Finch (Gould, 1837), Taeniopygia castanotis. Taeniopygia guttata castanotis is found over the wide range of continental Australia.Taeniopygia guttata guttata, the Timor Zebra Finch, extends from Lombok in the Lesser Sunda Islands or Nusa Tenggara in Indonesia to Sermata in addition to coastal areas around the continent of Australia.The greatest threat to the survival of the species are predation by cats and loss of natural food. If they are kept caged they normally live for 8–10 years, if they are well looked after and happy, they will most likely live for around 12 years with the exceptional case of 14.5 years reported for a caged specimen.

The Zebra Finch may reach up to 5 years in its natural environment. The life expectancy of a Zebra Finch is highly variable because of genetic and environmental factors. Outside of the breeding time, brood nests are constructed for sleeping in.

Wild birds are adaptable and varied in their nesting habits, with nests being found in cavities, scrub, low trees, bushes, on the ground, in termite hills, rabbit burrows, nests of other birds, and in the cracks, crevices, and ledges of human structures. Birds in captivity are ready to breed year-round. The Zebra Finch breeds after substantial rains in its native habitat, which can occur at any time of the year. Zebra Finches - including many human-bred variants to the species - are widely kept by genetic researchers, breeding hobbyists and pet owners. They are typically found in open steppes with scattered bushes and trees, but have adapted to human disturbances, taking advantage of human-made watering holes and large patches of deforested land. Zebra Finches inhabit a wide range of grasslands and forests, usually close to water.

Zebra finch baby care