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Gouldian Finch


Gouldian Finch
Photo Information
Copyright: Pam Russell (coasties) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3749 W: 483 N: 8155] (28054)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-03-20
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 10D, Tamron 28-300XR, Hoya UV 62mm
Exposure: f/6.7, 1/250 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2005-03-26 3:44
Viewed: 7006
Points: 40
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Gouldian Finch

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.

Gouldian Finches are very social birds and are often found in large flocks. Pairs may even share hollows in the same tree when they are nesting. They are also known as Lady Gouldian, Rainbow finch or simply Gould. The birds are about 130-140mm long. 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.

The females are not as brightly colored. This is thought to be so that they are less noticeable when sitting in a nest, while a colorful male can distract predators away from the nest, therefore ensuring the survival of the young. Young birds, or juveniles, are distinctive because of their colors. Their heads, sides and necks are grey, and their backs, wings and tail feathers are olive green. Their undersides are pale brown. Beaks are blackish with reddish tip. Their legs and feet are light brown.

Like other finches, the Gouldian finch is a seed eater. They prefer to feed on tall grasses rather than be on the ground. They also eat insects such as beetles, termites, flies and spiders. They drink by sucking. Gouldian Finches are quiet birds that generally stay away from places where people live. Their calls are not heard over great distances.

Gouldian finches generally make their nests in holes such as termite mounds or in tree hollows. Sometimes they make nests in tall grasses. The nests are generally near water. They usually breed in the last part of the rainy season, when there is plenty of food around. When a male is courting a female, he bobs about ruffling his feathers to show off his colors. He expands his chest and fluffs out his forehead feathers. After mating, a female lays a clutch of about 4-8 eggs. Both parents help brood the eggs during the daytime, and the female stays on the eggs at night. When the eggs hatch, both parents help care for the young.

Image Information

Camera: Canon 10D
Time of day: 1:21 p.m.
Date: 20th March 2005
Weather conditions: Clear
Lens: Tamron 28-300mm XR
Filter: Hoya 62mm UV
Shutter Speed: 1/250
F-Stop: F/6.7
Flash: No
Tripod: No
Focal Length: 300mm
ISO: 400
TAZ, LordPotty, milloup, Janice, elroyie, liquidsunshine, pompey, scottevers7, mrower, gerhardt, normanw, deud has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To LordPotty: Finchcoasties 1 03-26 04:48
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2241 W: 47 N: 3167] (10926)
  • [2005-03-26 3:49]

Wow ! Nice composition for this beautiful bird ! Wonderful colors and excellent DoF.
Very well done !

A beautiful finch Pam,and new to me.I guess this was in an aviary.Very nice colours and composition.

Beautiful natural shot - very clear and colorful. Fantastic composition and great details. Superb colors. Well done & TFS!

Nice and sharp capture of this little beauty, cute pose you captured, good colours.
Up here I've seen these often in the past while working in a pet shop, but, of course, never in the wild. They're truly gorgeously coloured critters ;-)

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3277 W: 148 N: 6163] (18832)
  • [2005-03-26 6:03]

Hey Pam, beautiful shot. I love his colours, his markings are so stunning and so different. Good POV catching his excellent pose. Very well done.

Beautiful bird Pam.
Stunning colours, very good details and composition.
Very well done.

Great shot, perfect colours and pose. I just would like to see a bit more of its face.
Well done.
TFS.

  • Great 
  • Toni Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 403 W: 2 N: 316] (2034)
  • [2005-03-26 12:54]

Lovely expression, colours and composition. He's so cute on that branch.
Regards.
Toni

Excellent capture, very good composition and colours wonderfull picture, well done!

A beautiful bird Pam,
excellent details, great shaprness and good colours.
Great composition, a very nice image to view
Thanks for posting

  • Great 
  • Graal Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 751 W: 31 N: 20] (5100)
  • [2005-03-26 14:57]

Beautiful colors and good sharpness. Finch is excellent bird, interesting note.Good work.
Regards
Aleksander

  • Great 
  • pompey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 144 W: 4 N: 746] (2774)
  • [2005-03-26 17:11]

Beautiful shot Pam, a beautiful bird that you have caught very well.
Excellent clarity, pose and colours.
Good note also!
Thanks for sharing.

Pam, A great photo! Beautiful colors and great detail. Perfect composition and framing...I love this one...Great Job!

LOvely shot you must have been so close to him when you took this. I love the detail - you could reach out and touch him.

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1393 W: 119 N: 5267] (23955)
  • [2005-03-27 22:54]

What a great bird ! And well done too of course. Colors and sharpness are superb. Thanks !

Mario

Another beauty from your neck of the woods, Pam. Exceptionally colorful critter with a striking pose. Very well done with this capture.

What a pretty bird! A lovely clear shot as well, showing the colours and the environment as well.

  • Great 
  • optic Gold Star Critiquer [C: 322 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2005-03-28 18:22]

What a wonderfull image Pam! i like the great composition, colours & sharpness are great you did a nice capture,

Thanks for sharing,

  • Great 
  • deud Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 438 W: 11 N: 534] (2540)
  • [2005-04-02 7:42]

Just incredible! Absolutely fantastic bird, grreat colours, compo! Congratulations.

Hi Pam,

very nice and detailed shot. It is hard to make them smile - but as I can see you almost made it!

Thanks for sharing.
Thomas

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