All About Gouldian Finches

Gouldian finches derived their name from the wife of a British explorer named John Gould. This species is endemic to the Australian continent, meaning that they are geographically unique to this land. They are strikingly colorful, with greenish wings, purple-blue chest, black head, and streaks of red and yellow. They can be a stunning addition to your collection, and can serve as the main attraction in your backyard.

The Look - Female gouldian finches have a much more tamed coloration as opposed to males. This may be the only way you can tell them apart. But all Gouldian birds have almost similar colorings, with the back of their head having a turquoise lining and the neck area being slightly greenish. The lower breasts and portions of the body are mostly yellow. This color combination is truly stunning, which is the reason why many bird enthusiasts seek out Gouldian birds as their pets.

Endangerment - The Gouldian finches face the danger of extinction these days because of reasons such as fire regimens, deforestation, and widespread cattle grazing. Because they mostly depend on seeds and grasses for their food, they often times die of hunger when there is a lack of these resources. Breeding these birds is a great way of ensuring the survival of this specie. These finches love sorghum seeds in particular, so make sure that the cage has plenty of those at all times.

Who Cared for Them - Gouldian finches are popular pets in many parts of the world. Pet lovers from South Africa, United Kingdom, Japan, New Zealand, and Holland keep them as one of the attractions in their home. The domestication of these finches goes back more than a hundred years ago. It is believed that these birds were first bred in the Australian continent in 1886. There are certain conditions that must be kept in order to ensure healthy breeding. They prefer warm weather to cold winters and rainy seasons. During wintertime, you can substitute natural sunlight with light bulbs in order to keep them warm. Breeding season begins on the onset of spring until summer.

Handling - Remember that while Gouldian finches are fun to be around, they are not necessarily keen to the idea of being held by human hands. They shy away when you try to feed them out of your hands. It is okay to observe them from outside the cage but avoid reaching out to them and touching them. They are quite small and nimble and can easily slip out of your grip.

Although they generally look the same, Gouldian finches come in three different types. The first one is the Black-Headed finch because their faces are surrounded by dark colors. It extends to the beak and covers portions of the eyes. The Red finch has a slightly reddish face while the yellow gouldian finch has a predominantly yellow color in their head. A combination of these types would make a colorful ensemble in your cage and would surely delight house members and guests. Make sure to provide fresh water and food to your pets so they can stay healthy and active.

Kevin is an avid bird enthusiast who and has created a free resource on pet finches at http://www.PetFinchCare.com. Sign up for a 10-part mini-course and learn about caring for different varieties, like the gouldian finch, cages for finches, breeding finches, and much more. Visit today and enjoy happier, healthier finches.