With the most commonly kept finch, the zebra finch, the male has orange cheek patches and chestnut flanks with white spots, while the female does not (in more mutations). Zebra finches go 'beep beep" and sound so cute. The males have the orange cheeks and the females don't. There's no real difference in size or coloring, so telling them apart can be problematic -- especially if you'd like a breeding pair. The House Finch is a recent introduction from western into eastern North America (and Hawaii), but it has received a warmer reception than other arrivals like the European Starling and House Sparrow. Typically the male will have a slightly larger orange cheek than the female. If you want to keep multiple finches, it is best to keep either a single pair or at least three pairs to make a flock. However, this method is problematic for immature individuals and species that bear eclipse plumages after their breeding season has ended, during which both sexes appear identical. Females may chirp or make occasional noises, but females do not sing. If you buy a male and female, they'll probably breed and zebra finches breed like crazy. I highly recommend buying two same sex finches. Finches are social and active birds that live together in large groups in the wild. Some finches are sexually dimorphic, meaning that the males can be distinguished from the females visually. Because many finch species are sexually dimorphic, the relative brightness of a finch's colors often indicates gender -- male finches generally possess bolder, more flamboyant markings than females. Other common names Nutmeg Finch, Nutmeg Mannikin, Nutmeg Munia, Ricebird, Scaly-breasted Mannikin, Scaly-breasted Munia, Spice Finch, Spice Munia, Spice Bird, Spotted Mannikin, Spotted Munia, Barred Munia, Mascot Finch Subspecies: L. p. punctulata: Indian Scaly-breasted Munia, Indian Spotted Munia, Red-tailed Spice Bird, Black and White Spice Bird Sometimes they preen each other. Its name is based on the distinct scale-like feather markings on the breast and belly. 7 Examples of dimorphic species are the Lady Gouldian Finch and the Cordon Bleu Waxbill, both pictured above. If finches are provided with the proper habitat, different species of finches can live … Adult females aren’t red; they are plain grayish-brown with thick, blurry streaks and an indistinctly marked face. Strawberry Finches: If your finch is laying eggs then she is female. It turns out that he's a male, and he has the prettiest song & chirp, although he's mostly quiet. They get along famously. Finch are tiny as birds go, but for physical and emotional health, they need sufficient territory. Female finches will lay eggs regardless of whether they are with a male finch. This doesn't mean that pet finches do well in groups in homes, though. Adult males are rosy red around the face and upper breast, with streaky brown back, belly and tail. With zebra finches, it's very easy to tell the difference between males and females. This is really the only way that I have to sex them. Typically, with these species, the male is the more vibrantly colored or more elaborately marked of the two sexes. One of the biggest mistakes when housing finches together is making the enclosure too small. To determine the gender of your little birds, you must observe their behavior. The sexes are identical with the Spice finch. The males also have a slightly larger and brighter white/grey area just below the lower mandible. Male and female society finches look pretty much the same. Males have red beaks and females have orange beaks. The male will sing a nearly inaudible song, and stretch his neck and turn from side to side a bit when performing his courtship song. This is a guide about distinguishing between male and female zebra finches. It is easier to distinguish between genders in some bird species than others. I bought a Spice finch abt 18 months ago to keep my male Zebra finch company. Male finches also are the only finches who can sing.