| Actual Image
Gouldian Finch (32)
darwin
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 252 W: 0 N: 465]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif) (1756) | 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. |
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