![]() ![]() When a male is courting a female, he bobs about and ruffles his feathers in an attempt to show off his bright colors. They usually breed in the early part of the dry season, when there is plenty of food available. Gouldian finches will usually make their nests in tree hollows. Breeding Newly-hatched Gouldian finch chicks A young Gouldian finch (first day out of the nest) – note the blue nodules on the side of its beak So far Gouldians have been recorded eating six different species of grass seed, but researchers have yet to find evidence of insect consumption. During the wet season, spinifex grass seed ( Triodia sp.) is an important part of their diet. During the dry season, they mainly forage on the ground for seeds. During the breeding season, Gouldian finches mainly feed on ripe and half-ripe grass seeds of sorghum. They eat up to 30% of their bodyweight each day. ![]() Like other finches, the Gouldian finch is a seed eater. In the dry season, they are much more nomadic and will move to wherever their food and water can be found. During the breeding season, they are normally found on rough scree slopes where vegetation is sparse. ![]() Flocks can consist of up to 1,000–2,000 individuals. Outside the breeding season, Gouldian finches often join mixed flocks consisting of long-tailed finches and masked finches. Cyclones and climate change have also negatively impacted tree hollow availability in the Northern Territory. The primary threat to wild Gouldian finch populations is an increase in extensive wildfires in the late dry season of its native habitat, which negatively impacts the availability of both tree hollows for breeding, and the seeds that comprise the bulk of the Gouldian finch's diet. Early research suggested that a parasite called the air sac mite was responsible for the species' decline, but the mite is no longer considered a major factor. The current estimated population continues to be 2,500 or fewer birds. The population went from hundreds of thousands in the early 20th century to 2,500 or fewer by the 1980's. The number of Gouldian finches in the wild decreased dramatically in the 20th century due to human-caused habitat loss. Prior to the Australian government's ban on the export of Australian fauna, Gouldian finches were exported worldwide, which has resulted in viable captive breeding populations being held in many countries. Gouldian finches are native to northern Australia, in particular the Kimberley and Northern Territory. Distribution and habitat Black-headed male Gouldian finch It is believed that these tubercles simply reflect light and are not luminescent. These tubercles are commonly (and incorrectly) described as phosphorescent in spite of much scientific evidence to the contrary. There are several "prominent rounded tubercles" with an "opalescent lustre" at the back of the gape. Selective breeding has also developed mutations (blue, yellow and silver instead of a green back) in both body and breast colour. Formerly considered three different kinds of finches, it is now known that these are colour variants of one species that exist in the wild. Gouldian finches' heads may be red, black, or yellow. Gouldian finches are about 125–140 mm long. One major difference between the sexes is that the male's chest is purple, while the female's is a lighter mauve. The females tend to be less brightly colored. Description īoth sexes are brightly coloured with black, green, yellow, and red markings. The Gouldian finch is sister to the parrotfinches in the genus Erythrura. It is also known as the rainbow finch, Gould's finch, or sometimes just Gould. Specimens of the bird were sent to him by British naturalist Benjamin Bynoe, although they had been described some years before by French naturalists Jacques Bernard Hombron and Honoré Jacquinot. The Gouldian finch was described by British ornithologist John Gould in 1844 as Amadina gouldiae, in honour of his deceased wife Elizabeth. The Gouldian finch ( Chloebia gouldiae), also known as the Gould's finch or the rainbow finch, is a colourful passerine bird that is native to Australia. ![]()
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