In mixed aviaries, Society Finches will often rear the young Gouldian Finches. Based on your location, molting will occur at different times of the year, and you should make every effort to have your birds finish their breeding 4 to 6 weeks prior to their scheduled molt.īreeding these birds is no simple matter, and they are known to be careless parents, often abandoning eggs or hatchlings. Molts can be delayed for various environmental reasons as described by. You can expect a yearly molt that can be fairly stressful for your birds as they may lose many feathers at a time. Below is a nice video of Gouldians bathing in an outdoor aviary. They love to bathe and can be given small saucer of water or lightly misted with a spray bottle if living in a cage. Their nails may need clipping, which can be problematic due to their unwillingness to be held. Gouldian Finches are susceptible to cold and require a temperature of between 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit (around 20 degrees celsius). Another consideration is to ensure that the doors allow you to get in to feed and water your birds, but not large enough for them to escape. Most finch accessories are made for cages with vertical bars, so keep that in mind when choosing a cage. Provide a nest box and a variety of wooden perches for your birds. This will shorten their lifespan and often lead to breeding problems with females. Larger is better as these birds need to fly for exercise and will become stressed in smaller enclosures. Gouldians get along with these other finch species and they can be kept together in a spacious aviary.Ĭage size should be a minimum of 30 inches long x 18 x 18 inches with 1/2 inch bar spacing. Zebra and Society Finches are hardier and are a better choice for novice bird-keepers. Gouldian Finches are not the easiest finches to care for and for this reason, are not recommended as a first bird for new bird owners. Your interaction with these birds is primarily from afar, simply observing and enjoying their splendid colors. It can be done with extreme patience, but the bird’s temperament many make it impossible in your individual case. Though they are intelligent, their reluctance to be handled means they are very difficult to train for even simple behaviors like stepping-up. They are very alert and can be startled by the occasional fast and loud movement of children, so caution should be taken in that regard. Since these birds should not be held, they are fine for families with small children. These finches are also particular about their surroundings, and according to the, they can be fatally stressed by a change in environment. They are very active, “watch only” birds that dislike being held. Solitary birds will not be happy, so plan on having at least a few of these beauties. Gouldian Finches are friendly, social birds that are best kept in groups in a large cage or aviary. What Can I Expect From My Gouldian Finch? Below is a short video that demonstrates their beauty and vocalization. Gouldian finches are not known to mimic human speech. They do make a persistent chirping sound that is not too loud nor unpleasant. These are quiet little birds that do not sing complicated songs. As with most finches, they have two long and pointy tail feathers. They sport brightly colored red, green, yellow, black and purple feathers and are one of the most colorful of all the Australian birds. The attractive coloration of these finches is what endears them to pet bird owners. What Do Gouldian Finches Look and Sound Like? Male Gouldians have a purple chest with females’ chests colored a lighter mauve. Females are less brightly colored than the males.
Named after Elizabeth Gould, wife of British ornithological artist John Gould, these finches grow to be about 4.7 to 5.9 inches (12 -15 cm) and weigh about 1/2 ounce (14-15 grams). Their number was decimated by capture for the pet trade, and Australia banned the trapping and exportation of these birds in 1960. According to, there are only about 10,000 birds surviving in the wild. Gouldian Finches are native to northern Australia, where they once formed large flocks. About 75% of these finches are of the black-headed variety. There are three main variations based on the color of the bird’s head, which can be red, black or yellow. These small songbirds are also commonly called Lady Gouldian Finches and Rainbow Finches. The scientific name of the Gouldian Finch is Chloebia gouldiae.
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