- Where to see one
- 3 U.S. zoos in our directory hold gouldian finch, confirmed against each zoo's own animal list.
Conservation status
Not Evaluated
This species has not been assessed for the IUCN Red List, so it sits outside the threat scale entirely.
About the gouldian finch
The Gouldian finch is a colourful songbird native to northern Australia, especially the Kimberley and the Northern Territory. Both sexes are marked in black, green, yellow and red, though females are less bright and have a lighter mauve chest where males are purple. The head may be red, black or yellow, which were once thought to be three different kinds of finch but are colour variants of one species. It is about 125 to 140 mm long and eats seeds, taking up to 30% of its body weight each day. Outside breeding it joins mixed flocks, and wild numbers have fallen to an estimated 2,500 or fewer birds.
Gouldian Finch facts
- It was named in 1844 by John Gould in honour of his deceased wife Elizabeth.
- The glowing tubercles in nestlings' mouths reflect light but are not luminescent, despite common claims.
- Flocks outside the breeding season can consist of up to 1,000 to 2,000 birds.
- Late dry-season wildfires reduce both the tree hollows it nests in and the seeds it eats.
Where to see gouldian finch in the U.S.
3 zoos across 2 states
Find the closest one
Rank the 3 zoos holding gouldian finch by how far they are from you. Your location is used in your browser to sort this list and is never sent to us.
California· 1
Massachusetts· 2
AZAThe Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Accredited members have passed an independent inspection of animal care and welfare, safety, conservation and education, repeated every five years. Many smaller facilities never apply, so “not accredited” isn't a verdict on its own. What accreditation means · How we check this
Built from each zoo's own published animal list.
