Born Far from Home

Zebra Finch — a small bird with a remarkable story.

When I saw this male Zebra Finch in a small zoo in Cyprus, my first thought was: how did an Australian bird end up on a Mediterranean island?

The answer turned out to be surprisingly simple. Zebra finches have been bred in captivity for well over a century and are now among the world's most widely kept birds. Generation after generation has been born far from Australia, even though that is where the species first evolved.

There is something quietly fascinating about this tiny bird's journey. In the wild, zebra finches inhabit the dry interior of Australia. Today, they can be found in zoos, aviaries, and homes across almost every continent.

Yet they are known for more than their adaptability. They are also among the most extensively studied birds in science because young males learn their songs from adults in much the same way children learn to speak by listening to their parents. Perhaps that is why this little finch has become far better known to scientists than many birds that are larger, rarer, or far more spectacular.

Paphos, Cyprus.
June, 2012.
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