The Timor Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata guttata) gets its name from its native arid island of Timor which is part of Indonesia/East Timor, and its distinctive black-and-white striping that reminded early European observers of a zebra. This tiny cousin of the Australian Zebra is half the size of a standard Zebra Finch, about the same size as a medium Waxbill. Timor Zebras come from the Timor Islands, located north of Australia and south of New Guinea. It has been isolated from the mainland Australian population long enough to have evolved its own distinctive call and markings. It thrives in grasslands, savannahs, and open woodlands near water, adapting to human-modified areas like farms and towns.
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