Editing Australian zebra finch (section)

==Life cycle==
The life expectancy of an Australian zebra finch is highly variable because of genetic and environmental factors. The zebra finch may reach up to five years in its natural environment. If they are kept caged, they normally live for 5 to 9 years but may live as long as 12 years,<ref name= awd>{{cite web|url=http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Taeniopygia_guttata.html | title=Taeniopygia guttata|access-date=22 July 2009|work=Animal Diversity Web|publisher=University of Michigan|year=2007|author1=White, R.  |author2=Fraser, A. |name-list-style=amp }}</ref> with an exceptional case of 14.5 years reported for a caged specimen.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=http://genomics.senescence.info/species/entry.php?species=Taeniopygia_guttata |title=AnAge entry for Taeniopygia guttata |publisher=Genomics.senescence.info |access-date=25 January 2011}}</ref> The greatest threats to captive zebra finch survival are predation by cats and loss of natural food.<ref name="goldenb">{{cite book |title=The Golden Book of Australian birds and mammals |last=Haddon |first=Frank |others=Illustrated by Tony Oliver|year=1985 |publisher=Golden Press |isbn=978-0-7302-0011-6 |page=44 }}</ref>