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Gouldian Finch


Gouldian Finch
Photo Information
Copyright: jon cody (darwin) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 245 W: 0 N: 453] (1710)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-05-13
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 40D, 100-400L is
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/500 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2008-06-07 20:13
Viewed: 910
Points: 32
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
In workshop is a shot of my first sighting of a Gouldian finch in the wild unfortunately the quality is poor as i was trying to capture a Brahminy kite in flight when this colorful little guy landed in a tree not far from me. after a couple of minutes of staring in disbelief and admiration i managed to take a shot with wobbly knees and shaking hands before he flew off

The shot above is my second sighting, same location, one week later but this time i waited for a couple of hours at a water hole next to the main billabong enduring the heat and humidity plus a hundred mozzie bites i think the wait was worth it,
Tomorrow Queens birthday long weekend i am heading back to same location with swag trying this time to capture the yellow headed Gouldian finch


The multi-coloured Gouldian Finch, a ‘jewel’ of the Australian tropical savannas has continued to decline in the wild across its northern Australian range for the past 50 years. Due to the immense beauty of Gouldian Finches, thousands of these birds were captured each year for the commercial pet trade. However, trapping of finches became illegal in Australia in 1986 once it was clear that the population was declining rapidly. It is now rarer in the wild than the Tiger!
Just 50 years ago large flocks of thousands would descend like vibrant rainbows to drink at waterholes in northern Australia.
Now only 2500 individual birds may now survive in the wild,mostly within the Kimberley region of Western Australia and the Northern Territory
The total number of Gouldian finches altogether is not low however, because they are among the most popular pet birds, and are bred in captivity for the pet trade

Gouldian finches are one of Australia's most beautiful birds. In the wild they are found in the tropical northern part of Australia.Their habitat is tropical savanna woodland where there are open plains with tall trees, near mangroves and water. The birds apparently migrate south when it is the rainy season at the 'top end' of Australia, returning in the dry season.

There are three different color variations in Gouldian Finches: the red-headed, the black-headed, and the yellow-headed. This is because the color variations are on their heads and not on their bodies. People used to think they were three different kinds of finches, but now it is known that they are just color variations of the one kind of finch.

Black-headed Gouldian finches are the most common: The male's wings are mostly green, edged with brown. The back and top part of the tail feathers are blue, and the rest of the tail feathers are black. It has a black head, cheeks and forehead. The upper chest is a light purple, with a narrow orange-yellow streak at the edge. The lower chest is yellow. The beak is grey, tipped with red. Its legs and feet are yellow.

Red-headed Gouldian finches: Males are similar to the black-headed males except that the head, cheeks and part near the eyes is red. About a quarter of Gouldian finches are red-headed..

Yellow-headed Gouldian finches are rare: Males are similar to the others, but the head, cheeks and part near the eyes is yellow.
jaycee, fayeulle, Argus, CeltickRanger, marhowie, JPlumb, iris, pekkavalo1, uleko, ralfsworld, mlines has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1778 W: 8 N: 4605] (14893)
  • [2008-06-07 20:31]

Hi Jon,

Plenty of finches here but none that look like this! The colors of this Black-headed are beautiful. Amazing to see all of these tones on one bird. Wonderful pose, sharp details, and a great composition. Interesting notes about the three variations and it was nice to see the Red-headed in the workshop. Perhaps some day you will be lucky enough to post a Yellow-headed - I hope so.

Jane

Hi Jon
Very nice coloured bird. I really like the way you framed it in front of a blur background.
Cheers
JP

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2597 W: 133 N: 7441] (23193)
  • [2008-06-07 22:15]

Hello Jon,
Though I agree that this is not up to your usual quality, the pose that shows the gorgeous colouring makes this worth posting, especially as this was taken in the wild.
TFS this and the WS shots,
Ivan

Hi Jon
You have been well rewarded for your patience in finding this fellow. It all happens so fast sometimes and you have done well to capture this guy. Well seen and captured. TFS
Cheers
Sue

Hello Jon,
Beautiful photo of this Finch. Great colours, composition and an excellent POV.
Regards,
Peter

hello Jon

excellent image of the Gouldian Finch this wonderful colourful bird,
fine POV, DOF and framing, excellent sharpness and details,
lovely catch-light at the eye, the bird is like a colour palette, TFS

Asbed

Hi Jon,
You sure have got some colourful species up there in the NT
Ours only look like that after a few mushrooms or a good acid tab ;)
Sounds like you went through a bit to get this,
Hope it was worth it.
I think it was.
A great image.
Cheers
Steve

Beautifully colored bird Jon, it's a well composed image.
Nice details with good exposure, POV, and DOF also..
Definitely worth the heat, humidity, and mozzie bites :)
Excellent notes, Thanks.
Well done & TFS,
Howard

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1714 W: 24 N: 4988] (16346)
  • [2008-06-09 6:46]

Hi Jon,
Outstanding shot of this Gouldian Finch with amazing colours and details on its plumage. Very sharp and neat image with great light and exposure management. Nice pose captured with precise DOF and well chosen POV. Very nicely composed. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

  • Great 
  • JPlumb Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 643 W: 160 N: 894] (2837)
  • [2008-06-09 20:50]

This is a very nice capture Jon. I can understand your excitement with your first sighting. You have great close clarity here with excellent colour on the bird.

Thanks, John

  • Great 
  • iris Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 389 W: 40 N: 730] (2302)
  • [2008-06-09 22:04]

I see Jon your posts are so colourful and to top it all you have presented a very very colourful bird here ....one i have never come across....nice PoV showing good details ...i still cant imagine one like this, it looks like a toy....thanks for sharing this..
cheers

Hi Jon,

Very good capture under the described conditions. Good pose and composition, sharp details and bright colours.

TFS

Pekka

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2459 W: 168 N: 7421] (23442)
  • [2008-06-11 9:57]

Hello Jon,
To see this in the wild must be fantastic! I've only seen it in an aviary! I remember they were trying to breed and reintroduce this rare bird near Mareeba on the Tablelands in Queensland but we never made it there. I understand your excitement and I think you did very well indeed. This is a very fine close view of this beauty in all its splendour! Excellent work!!
Many thanks and regards, Ulla

Hi Jon
You have captured cool and colorful bird here.
Well done and TFS
Ralf

  • Great 
  • mlines Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 505 W: 17 N: 555] (2550)
  • [2008-06-14 20:42]

Hi Jon, Good crop and excellent colours on this beautiful looking bird. The effect of the bacground enhances this. I'd like to see this sort of bird in the wild one day. TFS. Murray.

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1329 W: 107 N: 4791] (21282)
  • [2008-06-28 6:08]

What a fabulous subject Jon! Superb pose and composition, great colors and details, well done, thanks!

Mario

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