Gouldian Finch

(Chloebia Gouldiae)










 
                                                                        
Contents of this Page: ( Push at the subject)
About Gouldian Finch
How to take care
Breeding



     
                                                                     
























Original Country:

                          



Gouldian Finch resides in the Tropical parts of Northern Australia. Their habitat is tropical Savannah woodland where there are open plains with tall trees, near Mangroves and water. The Birds apparently migrate south when it is the rainy season at the "top of Australia", returning in the dry season.





Fitzroy Bluff 
-  one of the places where Gouldian Finchs live.



      Gouldian Finch in Nature

Types:


Gouldian Finch belongs to the strong billed  Grassfinches

There are three naturally occurrence variations of Gouldian Finch:

1) Red-headed Gouldian Finch has red mask and red billpoint
2) Black-headed  Gouldian Finch has black mask and dark Bill.
3) Yellow-headed Gouldian Finch has orange-yellow mask and  yellow billpoint.

The Yellow-headed Gouldian Finch is usually the least common variation.                                                                                                                   





Male


Has a bright green Back, yellow Belly and a purple Breast. The Facial colour is usually black and is found in about 75% of the birds. Redfaced forms make up about 25% of the population, and rare, yellowfaced Birds occur from time to time. The yellow colour are results from a lack of red pigment in the redfaced Birds.


Female


Looks like the Males, but is more dull in the Colours.


Size:



Gouldian Finchs are about 11 to 14 cm long.                                                                                





          Female  (0.1)                 Male (1.0)
              Red-headed Gouldian Finch
 Male (1.0)                         Female (0.1)
Yellow-headed Gouldian finch






                                                        
               Male (1.0)                        Female (0.1)
                     Black-headed Gouldian Finch
                                                                              

























How to take care:


A Gouldian Finch must constantly have  20-30º , and temperaturevaries must be avoided. It means that a Gouldian Finch is not suitable for an outside Aviary, but inside will the Bird be fine in a Case or in an Avairy . The Bird can be placed in an outdoor Avairy , which is fine for its muscles.                                                                                                                 
Gouldian Finchs like to be together with other Birds, and it is a peaceful bird . It is mostly silent, although a high-pitched whistling may be uttered from time to time.
It likes Finch Mix, and  appreciate lettuce ( not iceberg!!), Chickweed, Dandelion and Cucumber. A great deal of the seedfood has to be given as sprouted seed , since the food in Nature are halfripe Grass seed.
The Seed food should consist of different  kinds of hirse, canary- and grass-seed.






































Breeding:


Gouldian Finchs are not difficult to breed under the correct temperature conditions . The best result can be achieved in a big Casecage, where halfopen Nest Boxes or a big Nest Basket are placed.
The Bird will use Coconut fibres, Down and Feathers as nesting material, although they are lousy builders.Experts recommend thar some nesting material be placed in the Nest to insure that the Eggs are not simply laid on the bottum of a Nesting Box without nesting material.
Gouldian Finchs can breed from the age of 8 months , but it brings the best result from the age of 1 Year.
The Female lays 4-6 Eggs, which emerge approximately once every 24 Hours. Avtive brooding begins after the third Egg is laid, and incubation takes about 14 days. It is very important not to disturb or disrupt the Nest during this period. The fledglings leave the nest after about 22 days. Both parents are feeding the Chicks.
 The young birds has been coloured up at the age of 4 Months. In this period the young birds are extremely sensitive against changings.


Yellow-headed parents to the following young ones
Different Nestboxes to Gouldian Finchs



  4 days old
Mouth markings


11 days old



18 days old
25 days old   -

the fledglings had leaved the nest .


5 weeks old fledglings with their parents





Feeding of young Birds

6 weeks old

7 weeks old


Yellow Male
  4 Months old
Wings at 4 Months old young Bird

Whitechest
  4 Months old



A guide to Goldian Finch Colour Variants









Examples of mutationscolour
 to the left and a yellow-headed Gouldian Finch to the right

Blue mutation and a black headed blue Female