The Gouldian Finch (Erythura gouldiaeor Chloebia goldiae) is a small passerine bird in the Estrildidae family. It is an estrildid. It is also known as the Gould Finch or the Rainbow Finch.
The Gouldian Finch is brightly coloured and varied, with mainly black, green, yellow, and red markings. The male has a purple chest and the female has a light mauve chest. Its head is red, black, or yellow. Its beak is light-coloured with a red tip. It has pale legs and feet.
It grows to about 12-14 centimetres (5-6 inches) tall.
It is native to Australia. It prefers dry regions with little vegetation. It is not found in hot, tropical regions.
It eats seeds and grains. It forages on the ground for food. Sometimes, it eats insects, such as ants and termites.
The Gouldian Finch lives in flocks of 1,000-2,000 individual birds.
It forms a monogamous pair and mates for life. It makes a nest in a shrub or tree. The female lays 4-8 eggs, which hatch after 14-16 days. Both parents take turns to sit on the eggs until they hatch, but only the female sits on the eggs at night.
Both parents look afer the chicks. The chicks gain their flight feathers after about 18 days, and are independent after 40 days.
The average life expectancy of the Gouldian Finch is about 5 years.
[Location of photographs:Tashkent Zoo, Uzbekistan]
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM