Gouldian Finch - The Most Flamboyant, Adorable Finch

Gouldian Finch has colorful rainbow colors, gentle temperament, friendly, likes to live in flocks. It is an endangered species in the IUCN Red List.

The Gouldian Finch , or seven-colored sparrow in Vietnamese, is one of the most popular pet birds in the world. It stands out with its colorful rainbow colors, gentle and friendly temperament, and chirping voice. This is also a native bird of Australia, currently listed as an endangered species in the Red Book, in need of protection.

If you want to learn more about the origin, appearance, habits or how to raise Gouldian finches, don't miss the article shared by nicebirds below!

Gouldian finch information :

Origin and history of Gouldian finches

The Gouldian finch is a native bird of Australia.

The Gouldian Finch, also known as the Seven-Colored Finch, is a native bird of Australia. They are commonly found in the following areas:

• Northern Australia
• Western Queensland
• Western Australia

In the wild, they often live in dry savanna grasslands, along the edges of eucalyptus forests, often nesting in tree cavities or reusing the nests of other birds.

Gouldian Finch was first discovered in 1840 by English naturalist John Gould. And the name “Lady Gouldian Finch” was also given by him to honor his deceased wife.

Gouldian finches were once common in northern Australia, but their numbers have declined dramatically due to habitat loss, water shortages, and over-harvesting. They are now listed as “Endangered” on the IUCN Red List.

Gouldian finch appearance

Two Gouldian finches with colorful, adorable appearance.

Gouldian finches are one of the most colorful and diverse birds in the bird world. To learn more about the appearance of this bird, follow the content below!

Size & shape :

• Adult birds are about 14 cm long (including tail).
• Small, neat, lovely shape.
• Agile, flexible gait

Their fur is as colorful as the rainbow with many color combinations as follows:

• Head : Usually red, black or orange.
• Chest : Purple or light purple.
• Belly : Bright yellow or creamy white.
• Back and wings : Bright green or turquoise.
• Tail : Dark blue, black with purple hue, pointed, slightly long.
• Beak : Small, slightly curved, ivory white, tip red-orange or black.

Distinguishing between male Gouldian finches and female Gouldian finches:

• Male: More colorful, darker colors especially on the chest and head.
• Female: Lighter in color, breast is usually not as dark as male.

Gouldian finch behavior

Gouldian Finches standing next to each other.

Not only does the Gouldian Finch have a colorful and impressive appearance, it also has many interesting and distinctive Australian characteristics. Find out more below!

gentle personality

Gouldian finches are very gentle birds, rarely showing aggression or wanting to fight with other birds. They also live peacefully with their own kind, can live in pairs or in small groups.

Because of their gentle nature, they are somewhat shy and do not like to live near noisy, aggressive birds.

Live in a pack

In the wild, Gouldian Finches usually live in small groups of 10-20 individuals. Living like this, they will feel safer and happier.

So if you want to raise this bird, it's best to raise them in pairs so they don't feel lonely or stressed from living alone.

Active in early morning, chirping very softly

Gouldian finches are very hardy birds as they usually wake up very early and are very active in the morning.

They are not particularly noisy, just chirping softly and pleasantly, never screaming, screeching or making loud noises like many other birds.

Sensitive to the living environment

Gouldian Finches are extremely sensitive to changes in their living environment such as temperature, light, noise, etc. If the environment is unstable, they are very susceptible to stress, leading to feather loss, loss of appetite, or even leaving their nest.

In addition, moving, touching a lot or cramped living space also causes them stress.

Extremely selective in reproduction

Unlike many other bird species, Gouldian finches are extremely selective in their breeding. This is demonstrated by the fact that females will sometimes only accept males with similar facial coloration.

However, once paired, they are very loyal. Together they forage, nest, incubate eggs and protect their young.

Gouldian Finches Breeding Guide

A Gouldian finch with food in its mouth.

If you want to raise Gouldian finches as pets but don't know where to start or what techniques to pay attention to, follow the instructions shared below.

Prepare suitable cages & living space

As shared above, Gouldian Finch is a bird that is very sensitive to its living environment, so when keeping this bird in captivity, you need to prepare an optimal cage and living space to help them adapt quickly, be comfortable and not be stressed. Note the following:

• Cage size : Minimum 60 x 40 x 40 cm for a pair of birds, the larger the better.
• Cage material : Should use bamboo or stainless steel cage.
• Necessary equipment : Install multiple parking positions at different levels; have shower tray, feces tray, water trough and food trough.
• Cage location : Place in a cool place, avoid drafts, strong sunlight, avoid noise, must have soft natural light.

What do Gouldian finches eat?

In the wild, Gouldian Finch love to eat grains, so when keeping them in captivity, you should also feed them these grains and supplement them with some other types as follows:

• Main food : Millet, barley, oats, cat grass seeds,...
• Supplemental food : Egg bran for baby birds, chopped green vegetables, crushed boiled eggs or mineral sand, mineral rock.
• Drinking water : Need to provide enough clean water, change it every day.

Breeding Gouldian finches

To raise Gouldian finches for breeding, you should pay attention to the following:

Pairing :

• You should choose male and female birds of the same age, healthy, and at least 8 months old or older.
• Male and female birds with similar head color should be paired to make the breeding process easier.

Nesting :

• You should use a wooden box about 15 x 15 x 15 cm in size, with round holes for birds to enter and exit comfortably.
• The nest should be lined with dry grass, coconut fiber or straw. Absolutely do not use sharp objects.

Reproduction process :

• Each time they breed, the female usually lays 4 - 7 eggs, then incubates them for about 2 weeks.
• After hatching, baby birds need to be cared for for about 21 - 25 days before leaving the nest.

Hygiene care and disease prevention for Gouldian finches

To keep your Gouldian Finch healthy and disease-free, you need to pay attention to hygiene and disease prevention. Note the following:

Cleaning the cage :

• Clean the litter tray 2-3 times/week, wash the food and water troughs, and remove leftover food every day.
• Once a week, the cage should be thoroughly cleaned with diluted salt water or a mild alcohol disinfectant solution.

Disease prevention :

• Diarrhea, enteritis: Absolutely do not let birds eat spoiled food or drink dirty water. Always ensure food quality, supplement digestive enzymes and vitamins.
• Ruffled feathers: Need to supplement vitamins, protein and minerals for birds.
• Cold: Do not leave the cage in a place with strong wind, keep warm, supplement vitamin C for the bird, keep the cage dry, avoid humidity.
• Do not: Change the environment suddenly as it can cause shock and stress to the bird.
• When birds: Show signs of illness, they should be isolated for treatment and to prevent spread.

Gouldian finches price list

Currently, Gouldian finches are sold quite commonly in the Vietnamese bird market, and they also have many different prices, depending on the color, age, and origin of the bird. You can refer to the following price list for more details!

Note :

• You should buy Gouldian finches from reputable bird shops to ensure the origin and quality of the bird.
• Check the health and appearance of the bird before buying to ensure you choose the right color and the bird is healthy and active.
• Imported Thai Gouldian finches will cost more but they will ensure the quality and appearance of the bird.

Beautiful colorful Gouldian finches pictures

We invite you to admire the most colorful and beautiful images of Gouldian finches that we have compiled below to understand why this bird is considered the most "flashy" in the world of ornamental birds.

Gouldian finch with unique, impressive colored feathers.

A Gouldian finch is perched on a dry branch.

A pair of Gouldian finches perched side by side.

AI-generated Gouldian finch image is incredibly realistic.

Gouldian Finches Lady in different colors.

Image of two Lady Gouldian Finches hiding under the leaves of a tree.

Thus, through the article on nicebirds.net, we have provided you with a lot of information related to Gouldian finches - the most colorful ornamental bird species today. They not only have an impressive appearance but also have a very gentle temperament, are easy to breed, easy to raise, and are suitable for even those who have no experience in bird keeping.

Hope you will have more confidence and success in taking care of this colorful and lovely sparrow. Goodbye and see you again in other articles of the Blog section to learn more about beautiful bird species as well as other valuable bird raising experiences!