zebra-finchhttp://www.oed.com/dictionary/zebra-finch_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_usezebra finch, n.
Revised 2018

zebra finchnoun

  1. 1868–
    A small Australasian waxbill with black and white stripes on the face, Taeniopygia guttata (family Estrildidae), popular as a cage bird.
    Formerly known as Poephila guttata, and sometimes split into two species.
    1. 1868
      Mr. Underdown, of Adelaide, the exporter of Australian birds to Europe, has now in stock..7,000 pairs of zebra finches.
      Express (London) 24 February 2/3
    2. 1899
      The Diamond Sparrow, also an Australian, but inhabiting further south than the Zebra Finch.
      W. T. Greene, Cage-birds 59
    3. 1936
      Flocks of the most typical bird of Central Australia, the pretty little zebra finch, with its husky chirp.
      C. T. Madigan, Central Australia 103
    4. 1963
      The frequent presence of both adults in the nest by day..has been reported of wild Zebra Finches.
      Behaviour vol. 20 170
    5. 2012
      As a mature adult, a zebra finch sings essentially the same song every time.
      S. Seung, Connectome xi. 190

Originally published as part of the entry for zebra, n.

zebra finch, n. was revised in June 2018.

zebra finch, n. was last modified in September 2024.