Gouldian Finch (black-headed male)

Description:

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 black-headed male. It is a "small bird, with a bright green back (pic 2), yellow belly and a purple breast." (Birdlife Australia) Black-headed forms are the most common which are "found in about 75% of the birds. Red-faced forms make up about 25% of the population, 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)

Habitat:

The tree they came and perched in for a nap is overlooking a small gorge that had non-running water in it. This is on Bunuba Country and here is an interesting article from Bush Heritage: https://www.bushheritage.org.au/newslett... There was a smallish flock of about 4 juveniles and 2 adults (maybe 1 or 2 more) that flew into a tree during the heat of the day.

Notes:

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 - hence them making up 25% of the population. Baby Gouldian Finches have a nest in hollow bearing trees. The entrance is long which opens into a cavity where the nest is. They must have complete darkness. The only way the adults can see where the young are to feed them is by the UV patch near their beaks. Once the young fledge and begin to moult into their juvenile plumage, they lose this UV patch. 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: https://www.australianwildlife.org/wildl...