The zebra finch is one of the most widely studied birds in the world, with most of that research focused on domesticated birds in laboratories. We are the only group that are also conducting a long-running research project on a wild population, that we have studied at Fowlers Gap since 2004.
The zebra finch is a highly gregarious species that is widespread throughout the arid inland of Australia. We are currently working on questions relating to communication, social behaviour, reproductive physiology and ecology.
Publications arising from our work on the zebra finch:
Hurley LL, Ton R, Rowe M, Buchanan KL, Griffith SC, Crino OL (2023) Longitudinal covariation of testosterone and sperm quality across reproductive stages in the zebra finch. Hormones and Behavior, 153, 105388, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2023.105388
Pacheco-Fuentes H, Ton R, Griffith SC (2023) Short and long-term consequences of heat exposure on mitochondrial metabolism in zebra finches (Taeniopygia castanotis). Oecologia, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-023-05344-7
Loning H, Verkade L, Griffith SC, Naguib M (2023) The social role of song in wild zebra finches. Current Biology, 33, 372-380. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2022.11.047
McDiarmid CS, Hurley LL, Le Mesurier M, Blunsden AC, Griffith SC (2022) The impact of diet quality on sperm velocity, morphology and normality in the zebra finch Taeniopygia guttata. Journal of Experimental Biology, 225, jeb243715. https://doi:10.1242/jeb.243715
Adrian C, Griffith SC, Naguib M, Schuett W (2022) Wild zebra finches are attracted towards acoustic cues from conspecific social groups. Behavioral Ecology, 33, 556-564. https://doi.org/10.1093/beheco/arac013
Sheldon EL, Ton R, Boner W, Monaghan P, Raveh S, Schrey AW, Griffith SC (2022) Associations between DNA methylation and telomere length during early life: insight from wild zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). Molecular Ecology, 31, 6261-6272. https://doi. org/10.1111/mec.16187
Loning H, Griffith SC, Naguib M (2022) Zebra finch song is a very short-range signal in the wild: evidence from an integrated approach. Behavioral Ecology, 33, 37-46. https://doi.org/10.1093/beheco/arab107
Hauber ME, Louder MIM, Griffith SC (2021) Natural History of Model Organisms: Neurogenomic insights into the behavior and vocal development of the zebra finch. eLife, 10:e61849. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.61849
McCowan LSC, Griffith SC (2021) Baked eggs: catastrophic heatwave induced reproductive failure in the desert-adapted Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata). Ibis, 163, 1207-1216. https://doi.org/10.1111/ibi.12958
Ton R, Stier A, Cooper CE, Griffith SC (2021) Effects of heat waves during post-natal development on mitochondrial and whole body physiology: an experimental study in zebra finches. Frontiers in Physiology, 12, 661670. https://doi: 10.3389/fphys.2021.661670
Ton R, Hurley LL, Griffith SC (2021) Higher experimental ambient temperature decreases female incubation attentiveness in Zebra Finches (Taeniopygia guttata) and lower effort yields negligible energy savings. Ibis, 163, 1045-1055. https://doi.org/10.1111/ibi.12922
Griffith SC, Ton R, Hurley LL, McDiarmid CS, Pacheco-Fuentes H (2021) The ecology of the Zebra Finch makes it a great laboratory model but an outlier amongst passerine birds. Birds, 2, 60–76. https://doi.org/10.3390/birds2010004
Brandl HB, Griffith SC, Farine DR, Schuett W (2021) Wild zebra finches that nest synchronously have long-term stable social ties. Journal of Animal Ecology, 90, 76-86. http://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.13082
Engel K, Pankoke H, Jünemann S, Brandl HB, Sauer J, Griffith SC, Kalinowski J, Caspers BA (2020) Family matters: Skin microbiome reflects the social group and spatial proximity in wild zebra finches. BMC Ecology, 20:58 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12898-020-00326-2
Hurley LL, Crino OL, Rowe M, Griffith SC (2020) Variation in female reproductive tract morphology across the reproductive cycle in the zebra finch. PeerJ,8:e10195. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.10195
Cooper CE, Hurley LL, Deviche P, Griffith SC (2020) Physiological responses of wild zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) to heatwaves. Journal of Experimental Biology 223, jeb225524. http://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.225524
Funghi C, Heim RHJ, Schuett W, Griffith SC, Oldeland J (2020) Estimating food resource availability in arid environments with Sentinel 2 satellite imagery. PeerJ, 8:e9209 http://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9209
Cooper CE, Hurley LL, Griffith SC (2020) Effect of acute exposure to high ambient temperature on the thermal, metabolic and hygric physiology of a small desert bird. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part A, 244 (2020) 110684. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpa.2020.110684
Sheldon EL, Schrey A, Hurley LL, Griffith SC (2020) Dynamic changes in DNA methylation during postnatal development in zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) exposed to different temperatures. Journal of Avian Biology, https://doi.org/10.1111/jav.02294
Griffith SC, Andrew SC, McCowan LSC, Hurley LL, Englert Duursma D, Buchanan KL, Mariette MM (2020) Egg size is unrelated to ambient temperature in the opportunistically breeding zebra finch. Journal of Avian Biology, 51, e02356. https://doi.org/10.1111/jav.02356
Hurley LL, Rowe M, Griffith SC (2020) Reproductive coordination breeds success: the importance of the partnership in avian sperm biology. Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology, 74:3 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-019-2782-9
Cooper CE, Withers P, Hurley LL, Griffith SC(2019) The field metabolic rate, water turnover and feeding and drinking behaviour of a small avian desert granivore. Frontiers in Physiology 10:1405. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2019.01405
Crino OL, Driscoll SC, Brandl HB, Buchanan KL, Griffith SC (2020) Under the weather: corticosterone levels in wild nestlings are associated with ambient temperature and wind. General and Comparative Endocrinology, 285, 113247. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygcen.2019.113247
Brandl HB, Griffith SC, Farine DR, Schuett W (published online early 19th Sept 2019) Wild zebra finches that nest synchronously have long-term stable social ties. Journal of Animal Ecology http://DOI.org/10.1111/1365-2656.13082
Lansverk AL, Schroeder KM, London SE, Griffith SC, Clayton DF, Balakrishnan CN (2019) The variability of song variability in zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) populations. Royal Society Open Science, 6: 190273. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsos.190273
McDiarmid C, Naguib M, Griffith SC (2019) Zebra finch v-calls and evidence for a signal: a response to comments on McDiarmid et al. Behavioral Ecology, 30:e3-4. http://doi.org/10.1093/beheco/arz046
Brandl HB, Farine DR, Funghi C, Schuett W, Griffith SC (2019) Early-life social environment predicts social network position in wild zebra finches. Proceedings of the Royal Society, London, Series B, 286: 20182579. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2018.2579
Brandl HB, Griffith SC, Schuett W (2019) Wild zebra finches choose neighbours for synchronized breeding. Animal Behaviour 151, 21-28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2019.03.002
Brandl HB, Griffith SC, Laaksonen T, Schuett W (2019) Begging calls provide social cues for prospecting conspecifics in wild zebra finches. Auk 136, 1-13. http://DOI.org/10.1093/auk/ukz007
Funghi C, McCowan LSC, Schuett W, Griffith SC (2019) High air temperatures induce temporal, spatial, and social changes in foraging behaviour in wild zebra finches. Animal Behaviour 149, 33-43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2019.01.004
Sheldon EL, Griffith SC(2018) Embryonic heart rate predicts pre-natal development rate, but is not related to post-natal growth rate or activity level in the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata). Ethology 124, 829-837. http://DOI.org/10.1111/eth.12817
McDiarmid C, Naguib M, Griffith SC (2018) Calling in the heat: the zebra finch ‘incubation call’ depends on heat but not reproductive stage. Behavioral Ecology, 29, 1245–1254. https://doi.org/10.1093/beheco/ary123
Sheldon EL, Schrey A, Ragsdale AK, Griffith SC (2018) Brood size influences patterns of DNA methylation in wild zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). Auk, 135, 1113-1122. http://doi.org/10.1642/AUK-18-61.1
Brandl HB, Griffith SC, Schuett W (2018) Wild zebra finches do not use social information from conspecific reproductive success for nest site choice and clutch size decisions. Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology 72, 114. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-018-2533-3
Campbell BL, Hurley LL, Griffith SC (2018) Behavioral plasticity under a changing climate; how an experimental local climate affects the nest construction of the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) Journal of Avian Biology 49: jav-01717. http://doi.org/10.1111/jav.01717
Hurley LL, McDiarmid CS, Friesen CR, Griffith SC, Rowe M (2018) Experimental heatwaves negatively impact sperm quality in the zebra finch Proceedings of the Royal Society, Series B, London, 285 20172547; http://DOI.org/10.1098/rspb.2017.2547
Crino OL, Jensen SM, Buchanan KL, Griffith SC (2017) Evidence for condition mediated trade-offs between the HPA- and HPG-axes in the wild zebra finch. General and Comparative Endocrinology, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygcen.2017.11.025
Andrew SC, Hurley LL, Mariette MM, Griffith SC (2017) Higher temperatures during development reduce body size in the zebra finch in the lab and in the wild. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 30, 2156–2164. http://doi.org/10.1111/jeb.13181
Sheldon EL, McCowan LSC, McDiarmid CS, Griffith SC (2018) Measuring embryonic heart rate in wild birds: an opportunity to take the pulse on early development. Auk, 135, 71-82. http://DOI.org/10.1642/AUK-17-111.1
Hurley, LL, Fanson KV, Griffith SC (2017) Variation in the number of sperm trapped on the perivitelline layer of the egg in three species of estrilid finch. Auk, 134, 832-841.
Kim K-W, Bennison C, Hemmings N, Brookes L, Hurley LL, Griffith SC, Burke T, Birkhead TR, Slate J (2017), A sex-linked supergene controls sperm morphology and swimming speed in a songbird. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 1, 1168–1176 http://doi/org/10.1038/s41559-017-0235-2
Griffith SC, Crino OL, Andrew SC (2017) Commentary: The challenge of being ecologically relevant in captivity. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 5:21. http://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2017.00021
Knief U, Schielzeth H, Backström N, Hemmrich-Stanisak G, Wittig M, Franke A, Griffith SC, Ellegren H, Kempenaers B, Forstmeier W (2017) Association mapping of morphological traits in wild and captive zebra finches: reliable within but not between populations. Molecular Ecology, 26, 1285–130526. http://doi.org/10.1111/mec.14009
Boucaud I, Perez E, Ramos L, Griffith SC, Vignal C (2017) Acoustic communication in zebra finches signals when mates will take turns with parental duties. Behavioral Ecology, 28, 645-656. http://doi.org/10.1093/beheco/arw189
Crino OL, Buchanan KL, Fanson BG, Hurley LL, Smiley KO, Griffith SC (2017) Divorce in the socially monogamous zebra finch: hormonal mechanisms and reproductive consequences. Hormones and Behavior, 87, 155-163. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2016.11.004
Prior NH, Yap KN, Mainwaring MC, Adomat HH, Crino OL, Ma C, Guns ES, Griffith SC, Buchanan KL, Soma KK (2017) Sex steroid profiles in zebra finches: effects of reproductive state and domestication. General and Comparative Endocrinology, 244, 108-117. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ygcen.2016.02.018.
Crino OL, Buchanan KL, Trompf LBS, Mainwaring MC, Griffith SC (2017) Stress reactivity, condition, and foraging behavior in zebra finches: effects on boldness, exploration, and sociality. General and Comparative Endocrinology, 244, 101-107. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ygcen.2016.01.014
Griffith SC, Crino OL, Andrew SC, et al. (46 others) (2017) Variation in reproductive success across captive populations: methodological differences, potential biases and opportunities. Ethology, 123, 1-29 http://doi 10.1111/eth.12576
Knief U, Hemmrich-Stanisak G, Wittig A, Franke A, Griffith SC, Kempenaers B, Forstmeier W. (2016) Fitness Consequences of Polymorphic Inversions in the Zebra Finch Genome. Genome Biology, 17:199. http://DOI 10.1186/s13059-016-1056-3
Evans JK, Griffith SC, Klasing K, Buchanan KL (2016) Impact of nest sanitation on the immune system of parents and nestlings in a passerine bird. Journal of Experimental Biology, 219, 1985-1993. http://doi: 10.1242/jeb.130948
Perez, E, Mariette MM; Cochard P, Soulage CO, Griffith SC, Vignal C (2016) Corticosterone triggers the emission of high-pitched begging calls and affects parental investment in the wild zebra finch. Behavioural Ecology, 27, 1665-1675 http://doi:10.1093/beheco/arw069
Griffith SC, Mainwaring MC, Sorato E, Beckmann C, (2016) High atmospheric temperatures and ‘ambient incubation’ drive embryonic development and lead to earlier hatching in a passerine bird. Royal Society Open Science, 3, 150371, pp 1-14, http://DOI: 10.1098/rsos.150371 [PDF]
Prior NH, Yap KN, Adomat HH, Mainwaring MC, Fokidis HB, Guns ES, Buchanan KL, Griffith SC, Soma KK (2016) Sex steroid profiles and pair-maintenance behavior of captive wild-caught zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). Journal of Comparative Physiology A, 202, 35-44. http://DOI 10.1007/s00359-015-1050-3
Singhal S, Leffler EM, Sannareddy K, Turner I, Venn O, Hooper DM, Strand AI, Li Q, Raney B, Balakrishnan CN, Griffith SC, McVean G, Przeworski M (2015) Stable recombination hotspots in birds. Science, 350, 928-932. http://DOI: 10.1126/science.aad0843
Perez EC, Fernandez MSA, Griffith SC, Vignal C, Soula HA (2015) Impact of visual contact on vocal interaction dynamics of pair bonded birds. Animal Behaviour, 107, 125-137.
McCowan LC, Griffith SC (2015) Active but asocial: exploration and activity is linked to social behaviour in a colonially breeding finch. Behaviour, 152, 1145-1167. http://DOI:10.1163/1568539X-00003272
McCowan LC, Mariette MM, Griffith SC (2015) The size and composition of social groups in the wild zebra finch. Emu,113, 191-198. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/MU14059
McCowan LC, Mainwaring MC, Prior N, Griffith SC (2015) Personality in the wild zebra finch: exploration, sociality and reproduction. Behavioral Ecology, 26, 735-746 doi:10.1093/beheco/aru239
Knief U, Hemmrich-Stanisak G, Wittig M, Franke A, Griffith SC, Kempenaers B, Forstmeier W (2015) Quantifying realized inbreeding in wild and captive animal populations. Heredity, 114, 397-403. doi:10.1038/hdy.2014.116
Mariette MM, & Griffith SC (2015) The adaptive significance of provisioning and foraging coordination between breeding partners. The American Naturalist, 185, 270-280. DOI: 10.1086/679441
McCowan LC, Rollins LA & Griffith SC (2014) Personality in captivity: more exploratory males reproduce better in an aviary population. Behavioural Processes, 107, 150-157. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.beproc.2014.08.020
McCowan LC & Griffith SC (2014) Nestling activity levels during begging behaviour predicts activity level and body mass in adulthood. PeerJ 2:e566 [PDF]
Dall SRX & Griffith SC (2014). An empiricist guide to animal personality variation in ecology and evolution. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 2:3. [PDF]
Griffith SC & Gilby AJ (2013). Egg development time in the Zebra Finch Taeniopygia guttata varies with laying order and clutch size. Ibis, 155, 725-733.
Gilby AJ, Mainwaring MC & Griffith SC (2013). Incubation behaviour and hatching synchrony differ in wild and captive populations of the zebra finch. Animal Behaviour, 85,1329-1334. doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2013.03.023
Mainwaring MC & Griffith SC (2013). Looking after your partner: sentinel behaviour in a socially monogamous bird. PeerJ 1:e83; DOI 10.7717/peerj.83 [PDF]
Mariette MM & Griffith SC (2013). Does coloniality improve foraging efficiency and nestling provisioning? A field experiment in the wild zebra finch. Ecology, 94, 325-335.
Gilby AJ, Sorato E, Griffith SC (2012) Maternal effects on begging behaviour: an experimental demonstration of the effects of laying sequence, hatch order, nestling sex and brood size. Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology, 66, 1519-29 DOI 10.1007/s00265-012-1407-3
Immler S, Griffith SC, Zann R, & Birkhead TR (2012) Intra-specific variance in sperm morphometry: a comparison between wild and domesticated Zebra Finches Taeniopygia guttata. Ibis, 154, 480-487. doi: 10.1111/j.1474-919X.2012.01232.x
Mariette MM & Griffith SC (2012) Nest visit synchrony in a bird with bi-parental care. Journal of Avian Biology, 43, 131-140. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-048X.2012.05555.x
Woodgate JL, Mariette MM, Bennett ATD, Griffith SC & Buchanan KL (2012) Male song structure predicts reproductive success in a wild zebra finch population, Animal Behaviour, 83, 773-781.
Mariette MM & Griffith SC (2012) Conspecific attraction and nest site selection in a nomadic species, the zebra finch. Oikos, 121, 823-834. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0706.2011.20014.x
Tschirren B, Postma E, Rutstein AN & Griffith SC (2012) When mothers make sons sexy: Maternal effects contribute to the increased sexual attractiveness of extra-pair offspring. Proceedings of the Royal Society, London, Series B, 279, 1233-1240. doi:10.1098/rspb.2011.1543
Griffith SC, Pariser EC, Tschirren B & Astheimer LB (2011) Resource allocation across the laying sequence in the wild zebra finch. Journal of Avian Biology, 42, 480-484.
Gilby AJ, Mainwaring MC & Griffith SC (2011) The adaptive benefit of hatching asynchrony in wild zebra finches. Animal Behaviour, 82, 479-484.
Mariette MM, Pariser EC, Gilby AJ, Magrath MJL, Pryke SR, Griffith SC (2011) Linking offspring provisioning and foraging behaviour of a wild passerine using an electronic monitoring system. Auk, 128, 26-35.
Gilby AJ, Mainwaring MC, Griffith SC (2011) Parental care in wild and captive zebra finches: measuring food delivery to quantify parental effort. Animal Behaviour, 81, 289-295.
Elie JE, Mariette MM, Soula HA, Griffith SC, Mathevon N & Vignal C (2010) Vocal communication at the nest between mates in wild zebra finches: a private vocal duet? Animal Behaviour, 80, 597-605.
Griffith SC & Buchanan K (2010) The zebra finch: the ultimate Australian supermodel. Emu, 110, v-xii.
Griffith SC & Buchanan K (2010) Maternal effects in the zebra finch: a model mother reviewed. Emu, 110, 251-267.
Mainwaring, MC, Hartley, IR, Gilby, AJ & Griffith SC (2010) Hatching asynchrony and growth trade-offs within domesticated and wild zebra finch. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 100, 763-773.
Pariser EC, Mariette MM & Griffith SC (2010) Artificial ornaments manipulate intrinsic male quality in wild-caught zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). Behavioral Ecology, 21, 264-269.
Griffith SC, Holleley CE, Mariette MM, Pryke SR & Svedin N (2010) Low level of extrapair parentage in wild zebra finches. Animal Behaviour, 79, 261-264.
Tschirren B, Rutstein AN, Postma E, Mariette M & Griffith SC (2009) Short- and long-term consequences of early developmental conditions: a case study on wild and domesticated zebra finches. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 22, 387-395.
Griffith SC, Pryke SR, & Mariette M (2008) Nest box use by the zebra finch Taeniopygia guttata: implications for reproductive success and research. Emu, 108, 311-319.
Rutstein AN, Brazil-Boast J, Griffith SC (2007) Evaluating mate choice in the zebra finch. Animal Behaviour, 74, 1277-1284.
Griffith Ecology Lab 