The Chestnut Flanked Zebra Finch (CFW)

 

 

 

 

Also called Marked White or Chestnut Flanked White (CFW), these birds have white to ivory body color; The male has a breast bar, cheek patch and flanking, but generally diluted by comparison to normals. The females are white with black tear drop mark. Young often emerge white, frosted with lots of grey or black around the head and breast, and with black beaks. CFW is a sex-linked. This variety is variable from brightly colored birds to those that have pale color in the cheek patches, breast bar and flanking. Imported CFWs often have the best color we have seen with rich orange color in the cheek patches. They can also be among the largest of show zebras. The Continental CFW, a color form often bred in Europe usually has the richest black markings on the tail coverts that can be found in CFW . The photo above is of a Continental CFW, due tot he black tail coverts. However both standard and Continental CFWs are attractive. The females CFWs are often quite common in most collections of zebras, as a sex linked trait, females are more often seen in mixed collections than are males. They are the only white zebra with a black tear drop mark and subtle markings in the tail coverts. When the young fledge, they are easily recognized being mostly white, but with a gray head and tail, and a prominent black beak.