Gouldian finches nest in tree cavities with low light levels. Their chicks have iridescent beads on the corners of their beaks to help guide the parents to feed them! The clutch usually consists of 4-8 eggs, and both parents participate in brooding. The chicks leave the nest approximately 19 to 23 days after hatching and become independent at 40 days old.

 

Approximately 75% of Gouldian Finches have black faces, while about 25% have red faces. Research has shown that female Gouldian finches from northern Australia can influence the sex of their offspring by selecting mates based on their head color.

 

Gouldian finches primarily feed on ripe or half-ripe sorghum seeds (a type of grass). During the wet season, they consume spinifex grass seeds, while in the dry season, they predominantly forage on the ground for fallen seeds.

 

The main threat to Gouldian Finches in the wild is human activity. Bushfires during the dry season pose a significant problem. Humans have also introduced grazing animals such as cattle, sheep, camels, and rabbits, which consume the grasses that the finches rely on for food. Additionally, the capture of these birds from the wild for the exotic pet trade has been banned since it poses a threat to their population.