Common Name: Gouldian Finch
Scientific Name: Chloebia gouldiae
Size: 5 ½ to 6 inches (14-15 cm)
Habitat: Northern Australia, some reports in Northwest Australia and Queensland.
Status: Endangered in the wild, but not within the Pet Trade. Less than 2,500 left in wild.
Diet: Seeds, primarily millet; occasionally vegetables and insects.
Breeding: Gouldian Finches breed readily both in colonies and as a pair in captivity. They use either open or covered nests. Both birds will build the nest. The female will lay a clutch of 4 to 8 eggs and they will hatch in 14 to 15 days. The young leave the nest about 18 to 21 days after they hatch and in 6 to 8 weeks will be on their own, after their first molt. Their adult plumage comes in between 6 and 12 months.
Cool Facts: This finch, sometimes called the “Lady Gouldian Finch”, was named for Elizabeth Gould, wife of the British ornithological artist John Gould. Since Gould was neither a lord nor a knight, Mrs Gould did not hold the title ‘Lady’, so this name is a modern misnomer. ‘Gouldian Finch’ is the more common and accepted name which is used internationally.
Gouldian Finches are the stars in the Viewsonic Corporation logos.
Gouldian Finches are social and live in large groups all year long in the wild. They are friendly with other finches and do well when kept in groups. If you wish to mix bird types, they do very well in aviaries with Zebra Finches and Society Finches.
