Paintbrush Birds – Gouldian Finch
The Gouldian finch (Chloebia gouldiae), also known as the Lady Gouldian finch, Gould’s finch or the rainbow finch, is a colorful passerine bird that is native to Australia. Both sexes are brightly colored with black, green, yellow, and red markings. The females tend to be less brightly colored. One major difference between the sexes is that the male’s chest is purple, while the female’s is a lighter mauve.
Gouldian finches’ heads may be red, black, or yellow. Formerly considered three different kinds of finches, it is now known that these are color variants that exist in the wild. Selective breeding has also developed mutations (blue, yellow and silver instead of a green back) in both body and breast color.
Prior to the Australian government’s ban on the export of Australian fauna, Gouldian finches were exported worldwide. These birds have resulted in viable breeding populations being held in many countries.
Captive breeding has resulted in several colour mutations. Mutations vary by country, with some existing only in Australia (the Australian yellow and the Australian “dilute”) and others existing in greater number in the United States, such as the blue bodied Gouldian. The most common body mutations in the United States are blue, pastel green (single and double-factor, resulting in “dilute” and yellow males and yellow females), and pastel blue (again, single and double-factor producing “pastel” and silver males, and silver hens).
(Wikipedia with editing)
FUN FACTS – San Diego Zoo
- Only the male Gouldian finch sings.
- The Gouldian finch is also known as the Lady Gould’s finch, named for the wife of John Gould, a famous 19th century British ornithologist and artist.
- Gouldian finches prefer temperatures constantly above 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius).
- Black-headed male Gouldian @Finch Frankfurt Zoo
- Gouldian Finch – Male adult @Wikipedia
- Gouldian Finch (Erythrura gouldiae) by Africaddict
- Gouldian Finch (Erythrura gouldiae) by Dan
- Gouldian Finch (Erythrura gouldiae) by Ian
- Gouldian Finch (Erythrura gouldiae) at NA by Lee
- #3 Red-headed with Juveniles
- Red-headed male Gouldian Finch at Artis, Zoo-Netherlands
What a beautiful colorful array of the rainbow.
Great Verses:
“Many, O LORD my God, are Your wonderful works Which You have done; And Your thoughts toward us Cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered.” (Psalms 40:5 NKJV)
“We will not hide them from their children, Telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done.” (Psalms 78:4 NKJV)
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- Artistic Work in Birds – Introduction (2019)
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- Artistic Birds – Galliformes Order – Monal (2019)
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- Start Birdwatching Today: Enjoy The Lord’s Paintbrush – U.S. (2012)
- Start Birdwatching Today: Enjoy The Lord’s Paintbrush – Zoos (2012)
- Color That Man Did Not (Could Not) Create (2015)
A truly beautiful birds to behold, and you do have to go inland to the red centre to see them, especially around water where they will come with other finches to drink. Finches are our amazing desert birds and are subject to much current study. I have seen them in the wild and hope to see them again next year.
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