Gouldian Finch (red-headed male)

Description:

This is a spotting of Gouldian Finches in the wild! These beautiful Finches are endemic to Australia. According to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act - Gouldian Finches are listed as Endangered - (http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sp... ) This is a stunning red-headed male of which this form makes up about 25% of the population! They are "small birds, with a bright green back, [bright] yellow belly and a [bright] purple breast. The males have brighter plumage than the females (see spotting: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/588... ) The black-headed form is the most common ((see spotting: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/516... ) "and is found in about 75% of the birds...and rare, yellow-faced birds occur from time to time. The yellow colour results from a lack of red pigment in the red-faced birds." (Birdlife Australia: http://www.birdlife.org.au/bird-profile/... )

Habitat:

A little flock of Gouldians had come in for a drink at a small waterhole at the base of a small cliff in the early morning. They had been joined by a variety of other birdlife: Long-tailed Finches - Poephila acuticauda acuticauda, Diamond Doves - Geopelia cuneata, and Double-barred Finches: Taeniopygia bichenovii annulosa, just to name a few. "It is currently known to occur in significant numbers (> 50 adult birds) at only 10 locations, including five in Western Australia [one being here at the Mornington Wildlife Sanctuary]; and five in the Northern Territory." (http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sp... )

Notes:

First time seeing a wild Gouldian Finch! Check out this little video of the red-headed male with some females and juveniles: https://youtu.be/3kgkO0uR3D0 Juvenile spotting: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/170... I was so excited because a little flock had come in for a drink. It was a mixed flock with black-headed females, juveniles, and a red-headed male!!! If a red-head breeds with another red-head, the young will be red-heads. However, if a red-head breeds with a black-head, there is a 1 in 4 chance of a red-head (Mornington tour guide) - hence them making up 25% of the population. Gouldian Finches a predominantly grass seed eaters, except during the breeding season when they feed on insects. "AWC [Australian Wildlife Conservancy] protects one of the largest remaining populations of the Gouldian Finch at Mornington-Marion Downs, as well as smaller populations at the Artesian Range, Wongalara, Pungalina and possibly Brooklyn. We deliver effective conservation for the Gouldian Finch by implementing effective fire management (prescribed burning) and by removing feral herbivores. In addition, our field ecologists are undertaking vitally important research which has helped identify what needs to be done to reverse the decline in Gouldian Finches." - See more at: http://www.australianwildlife.org/wildli... Mornington-Marion Downs is a stronghold for many species that are rapidly disappearing elsewhere across northern Australia." (AWC) This also includes the Purple-crowned Fairy-wren (western) - Malurus coronatus coronatus (see this spotting: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/502... ) which is also listed as Endangered under the EPBC Act (see spreadsheet from this link: https://www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/plants-and-an... )