Owl finch preening Zebra

[lyn2233]

Hi, I have a pair of Owl finches was told they were male and female. Have had them a few months they are very discreet don't see them much aviary is 10mtrs in length and they seem to hide alot. I have a female zebra finch which lost her mate a couple of months ago, to-day I saw the Owl and the Zebra preening one another. I thought species would keep to their own kind, any thoughts on this. Should I take the Zebra out of the aviary.

[Craig52]

Hi, I have a pair of Owl finches was told they were male and female. Have had them a few months they are very discreet don't see them much aviary is 10mtrs in length and they seem to hide alot. I have a female zebra finch which lost her mate a couple of months ago, to-day I saw the Owl and the Zebra preening one another. I thought species would keep to their own kind, any thoughts on this. Should I take the Zebra out of the aviary.

Hi Lyn,zebs and double bars are closely related finches,so yes i would take her out.Double bar finches are renouned for preening each other and any other finches that will sit long enough to let them do it so just because your double bars are preening each other,it doesn't mean the're a pr Craig

[finches247]

Owl and Zebra are part the same family and will hybridize.

[lyn2233]

Thanks for you replies, I will take her out I have a small aviary will get her a new mate and put her in there.

[Castaneothorax]

I agree Double bars will preen zebs and do sometimes hybridise, so it is worth pulling the female zeb out. But also Double bars will preen many species anyway, like particularly redbrows, orange breasts, ruddies, & longtails. In a happy aviary this can be quite normal, but pull her out just in case they get too close.
Benj