Gouldian Finch (Red-headed male)

Description:

This lone Gouldian Finch 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" (http://www.birdlife.org.au/bird-profile/... )

Habitat:

Chilling out with some Long-tailed Finch (Poephila acuticauda acuticauda) adults and juveniles and some Double-barred Finches (Taeniopygia bichenovii annulosa) at Goombaragin on the Dampier Peninsula. They had been bathing together in the birdbath that was on the ground amongst the trees.

Notes:

An interesting Australian Geographic article: https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/... An interesting ABC article: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-19/g... They are the only Finch that breeds in tree hollows and will rarely build a domed nest in a shrub when no hollows are available. 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." (AWC - https://www.australianwildlife.org/wildl... )