The Gouldian Finch has several names including the European Gouldian Finch or the rainbow bird, all of which refer to the same bird distinguished by its bright and striking colors.
The Gouldian Finch stands out from other birds with its beauty and the harmony of its colors, indicating the marvel of God’s creation.
Gouldian Finch is considered sensitive and temperamental birds, with their own unique ways of interacting, making it important to choose the appropriate age for raising them, which should be one year or older.
We can identify the adult bird by its beak, as the male has a red beak, and the female has a black beak.
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specifications of the Gouldian Finch
- Length and Size:
Goldfinches are small birds, with a length of about 11 cm and a weight of 12 grams. They can live up to approximately 10 years.
Distinguishing between Male and Female Goldfinches:
- The male Gouldian Finch is larger in size and is the only one that sings. Additionally, it has – brighter colors and a larger black spot. The female’s colors are duller and tend towards brown
- Only the male sings, while the female only produces short calls.
- The male’s chest is darker and richer in pinkish color, while the females tend to have a lighter chest.
facts about the Gouldian Finch
- Gouldian Finch can drink water without tilting their heads, unlike other birds.
- Birds aged between one and three years old are most suitable for breeding.
- It’s important to provide sufficient food for the male during mating, otherwise, it may eject the eggs and chicks from the nest.
- Goldfinches may abandon their offspring or eggs due to disturbances near the nest.
- Some Gouldian Finches are naturally aggressive and may peck their chicks to death or even eat them.
- These birds enjoy being in groups, and breeding can be very prolific when done in colonies.
types of Gouldian Finch
- Siskin “The Star”
This type is characterized by its calmness and elegance, with spots scattered on the mask, chest, and on one side of the abdomen. Older birds have more concentrated colors and more spots.
- Cordon Bleu “The Blue Scarf”
It has brown feathers with blue ones on the chest, abdomen, and tail, while its beak is pink.
- Red Masked Finch
This beautiful bird is distinguished by its red mask covering its eyes, giving it a somewhat sharp appearance. It belongs to the waxbill family
- Java Sparrow
The beak of the Java Finch resembles that of the Gouldian Finch but is larger in size. Its original color is light gray, with dark white underneath the abdomen. However, it is now found in many other colors.
Where do Gouldian Finch live?
- Many species are found throughout sub-Saharan Africa predominantly in eastern, central, and southern parts, except for desert regions or dense forests
- Some species are found in Australia, inhabiting dry savannas
- Gouldian Finch can be found in a variety of habitats, such as grassy woodlands adjacent to waterways
What do Gouldian Finch eat?
- Gouldian Finch ‘ diet can consist of seeds, legumes, and greens.
- Ideal foods for them include thistle and vegetables like parsley, as well as various fruits like apples, pears, watermelon, nuts, and seeds. Soybean seeds are suitable.
- It’s important for their diet to include vitamins and carbohydrates.”
Reproduction in Gouldian Finch
- Breeding Season:
Gouldian Finch do not adhere to a specific breeding season in the year; they mate when suitable conditions are available, though September and October are optimal. They can mate at any time of the year after heavy rainfall. These birds are monogamous.
- Breeding Behavior:
Typically, they form strong pair bonds for life. Important in the mating process are the songs performed by the males, as well as a courtship dance to woo and approach females as part of mating rituals.
- Breeding Age and Sexual Maturity:
These birds usually start breeding between 9 to 12 months old and must be in good health to reproduce.
- Nesting:
Males provide intense protection for females during the nesting period and take turns collecting food for the chicks after hatching.
- Chicks:
At 5 days old, Gouldian Finch chicks start making noises when requesting food. At 12 days old, their eyes begin to open. They start leaving the nest at around 20 days old. By two months old, the basic color of their feathers starts to appear and remains for life.
FAQ
- Which Finch is best for breeding?
Cut-throat finches are a really easy finch to keep and breed once you get their housing and feeding right. They need a steady supply of livefood during the breeding season, but aren’t too fussy about what insects you offer and usually won’t abandon nests if you forget to feed them for a day
- What is the age of a Gouldian Finch?
Average Lifespan – birds bred and raised in our aviary- 8-10 years – some of our Gouldian’s have lived 10-12 years.
At the end of our article, it must be noted that these birds have adapted to live in several conditions in their environment and take advantage of rainfall and warmth.
To mate and reproduce, these birds also adapted to the expansion of human populations at the expense of their living areas, and were able to coexist with humans
