Common Names: Gouldian Finch, Lady Gouldian Finch, Goulds, Rainbow Finch

Description: In the wild Lady Gouldians can be seen in three forms including Red Head, Yellow (Orange) Head, and Black Head. The black head variety is the most common followed by the red head then yellow (orange) head. Males show a full bright mask in either of the three head colors outlined with black. The black head outline meets at the chin and extends down the throat. A turquoise blue band outlines the black and covers the upper nape and lower throat. Males have a deep purple breast and a vivid yellow belly which gradually turns into white near the vent and under tail area. A medium-dark green covers the lower nape below the turquoise band and proceeds down the back. The upper tail coverts are blue and the outer tail feathers are black-green. Males at maturity have pearl white beaks with either a red or orange tip depending on head mutation and long tail wires or barbs. Hens have the same color green back but are duller in other areas. Their breast is diluted to a lilac color and the belly is a paler yellow. The black head variety hens have a bright full mask resembling a males but the red and yellow (orange) head mutation hens rarely have full mask. Often times red or yellow (orange) headed hens have a considerable amount of black feathers mixed in with the mask color. The turquoise band on hens is barley visible and at maturity their beak retains at dark hue and can become almost entirely black. Both sexes have dark brown eyes.

Size: These beautiful finches range about 5 inches (13 cm) and are about the same size as a Spice Finch.

Origin: Gouldians were named by naturalist John Gould after his wife which he felt resembled thier beauty. They were first discovered in the end of the nineteenth century and still reamin wild in northern parts of Australia but are considered an endangered species in some parts of thier homeland. In the US gouldians are a domestic breed with numerous mutations.

Mutations/Sub-species: There are three distinct head colors on gouldians which include black, red and yellow (orange). These three head colors can be combined with different forms of breast colors including purple, lilac, white and blue. Normally the back color is green but now shows in two other forms including yellow back and blue back. These exsisting back mutations have been combined to form futher mutations such as pastels, dilutes, silvers and whites.