Male and Female Differences in the Gouldian Finch

The bright colors of Gouldian finches make them beautiful additions to a bird enthusiast's aviary. A large number of color variations and mutations are possible, but before starting a breeding program, it is important to match a Mr. to a Mrs. Appearance, voice, and mating and parenting behaviors all provide clues to determining the sex of a Gouldian finch.

  1. Appearance

    • Gouldian finches come in three varieties: red-headed, black-headed and yellow-headed. The color of the belly and breast, however, is usually how the sex is determined. The males have more vibrant and deeper color on their bellies when compared to the females. Males also tend to have darker colors, usually blue and green, around their faces. In addition, the two center tail feathers on the male Gouldian finch are much longer than the female's feathers.

    Mating

    • When a pair of Gouldian finches exhibit mating behavior, the differences in the male's and female's actions are noticeable. The male ruffles his feathers to show off his bright colors, bobs his head and puffs out his chest. He will also hold his head and body erect while hopping up and down and singing. Both sexes will in engage in beak-wiping -- rubbing their beaks against each other to communicate willingness to mate.

    Parenting

    • The male takes on most of the nest-construction duties, and the female will rearrange the nest to her preferences. The female finch will lay four to eight eggs per clutch. Both parents will brood over their eggs during the day, but only the female will sit on the nest at night. Male and female juvenile Gouldian finches are dusky green in color and will not acquire adult plumage for about four to six months.

    Voice

    • To the human ear, Gouldian finches are relatively quiet birds. While both sexes make noises, only the male sings. Although it is used in the courtship ritual with hens, the males will sometimes sing to other males. The song is a series of clicks, hisses and weak whines. The female can make contact and warning calls, and both sexes have a distinct contact call they make when approaching the nest. This high-pitched call generally can't be heard over long distances.