The Australian Red Zebra Finch mutation occurred on a male Black-faced Zebra. It was purchased from Allan’s Bird Shop in Fairfield (Sydney), by Greg Carey in the latter part of 1981. In an article published in the Zebra Finch Society of Australia Newsletter in 1984, Carey referred to this new colour as the “Red” Zebra Finch. Upon his return to Yass, N.S.W, Carey released this bird in to an aviary with a spare female, two other pairs of black-Faced Zebras and two pairs of White Zebras. He had a good breeding season!

In March, 1982 he noticed some “red” feathering on the chest of one of the colouring juvenile males. A few weeks later he noticed similar feathering on two more colouring males. After checking the other young in the aviary he discovered two young females with distinct pink ear patches and another with a couple of red feathers in her chest.

In early spring, 1983 he released the original male into a large aviary with two of the young males and the three young females that he’d bred the previous year. The following month five young Zebras fledged. Two of these coloured up to be normal looking males; the third being a “Red” with the chest bar being the same colour as the reddish-brown flanks.

All of the females that he bred that year carried the pink ear patch, with some being more pronounced than others.  Carey also wrote that the ear patches on the “Red” males that he bred were bigger and slightly brighter than normal, and that there was also a reddish tinge on the head feathers of some of the males. Some also had “red” above and below the chest bar.

Another “Orange-breasted” Zebra Finch mutation has also been established in Europe, from a bird found in a pet shop in Belgium by Paul Chabot in 1978. By combining this mutation with other established mutations, European aviculturists produced the “Phaeo”. Good ‘Phaeo” Zebra Finches have a complete orange head!

There is significant individual variation in the amount of  ‘red’ colour carried by mutant birds in both the Australian and the European mutations. This is caused by the partial or the complete reduction of eumelanin (black or dark brown melanin) in the feathers, while the reddish brown phaeomelanin remains intact. Also, depending upon the concentration of phaeomelanin in the feathers, the appearance of the bird may vary from a cream colour through to a dark reddish-brown hue.

The accompanying photographs are of two birds owned and bred by ZFSA secretary, Bob Carrett. They are outstanding examples of the Australian mutation; the result of his dedication and skill as a specialist Zebra Finch breeder!  I recently had the pleasure of spending the best part of a day in Sydney with Bob and his “Red” Zebras and came away amazed at what he has achieved with these birds in only three years!

He obtained his original three pairs of lightly marked, normal Red Zebras in 1999. Drawing upon the published experiences of overseas aviculturists breeding the European “Red” mutation, and using his own common sense, Bob developed his own breeding program to produce “Reds”. He immediately paired one of his original “Red” females to a normal Black-faced male, and the “Red” males to normal females. These pairings immediately produced a small percentage of “Red” birds, including Fawn females. He then selected birds with the “reddest” chests and the darkest wings from different families and paired  them together. He still uses these criteria to pair his birds!

As this mutation works to change the black markings to orange, Bob has concentrated on breeding Black-faced “Reds”. The Black-faced bird in the photograph was bred from a pair of his Black-faced “Reds”.  He has also experimented with combining the “Red” with the new “Charcoal” mutation. The first young normal “Red Charcoal”, although not yet fully coloured, already shows some bronze colouration coming into the wings and across the top of the head!

Red Grey Zebra Finch

The other colour he is concentrating on is the “Red Fawn”. Some of the birds that he has produced in this combination are striking with the “red” colour coming right across the chest! The “Red Fawn” bird in the photograph is a third generation bird bred from “Red Fawn” to “Red Fawn” pairings. (He is almost identical to the European Phaeo.) The sisters of this male show very dark cheek patches and carry the ‘ghost’ flanks of the male, and a small amount of orange on the tail.

Red Fawn Zebra Finch

Further research is needed to determine the genetic mode of inheritance for this mutation. Bob’s breeding results to date suggest that it is dominant – similar in fashion to the Black-faced Zebra Finch mutation. However, there are other reports of “Red” Zebras being bred from two normal looking parents. Time will tell!

David Myers