What specific marking characterizes the mature male Zebra Finch's cheeks?
Answer
Bright red or rusty-orange patches
Sexual dimorphism in the standard or wild-type male Zebra Finch is readily apparent through several pronounced markings. Among the most immediate identifiers are the vibrant cheek patches, which display a distinct bright red or rusty-orange coloration. These patches contrast significantly with the gray head and white belly. While the male also possesses the black and white barring on the throat and a black teardrop stripe below the eye, the cheek patches are specifically noted as one of his defining, flashy features differentiating him from the muted female.
Related Questions
What is the typical size range of the Zebra Finch from beak tip to tail end?What specific marking characterizes the mature male Zebra Finch's cheeks?How does the mature female Zebra Finch's beak color compare to the male's?What is the distinct beak color observed in young Zebra Finches before maturity?What type of inheritance governs the Fawn mutation in Zebra Finches?Which Zebra Finch mutations cause a silky look to the wings by impeding feather barb interlocking, thus hindering flight?What key morphological difference separates the Australian Zebra Finch (*T. castanotis*) from the Sunda Zebra Finch (*T. guttata*)?How must breeders sex White Zebra Finches, given their lack of pigment?What characteristic defines the appearance of the Penguin mutation in Zebra Finches?What is the color of the flanks (area under the wings) on a standard wild-type male Zebra Finch?