How to Gender Lady Gouldian Finch

Distinguishing between male and female Gouldian Finches is easier than with other finch species. We can confidently tell their gender by observing their behaviors and body colors. However, Gouldian Finches come in many colors, and what works for one color might not work for another, which can be confusing for beginners. In this article I will list the basic signs to look for. By using these signs together, you can quickly identify the gender of a Gouldian Finch.

Sign 1: Singing voice

Male Gouldian Finches are the only ones that sing, and their songs are usually small and monotonous. Therefore, if you see a bird singing, it's definitely a male.

Male Gouldian Finch is singing

Sign 2: Chest color

In purple-breasted Gouldian Finches, males are typically dark purple, while females are light purple. So, if you see a bird with a dark purple chest, it's definitely a male. However, if it's light purple, we can't be certain it's female because there's another shade called lilac. Both males and females can have a lilac chest. If the bird has a white chest or lilac chest, we need to look for other signs.

Male in the left with dark purple chest and female in the right with light purple chest

Male gouldian finch with dark purple and lilac chest

Sign 3: Beak color

During the breeding season, the beak of female Gouldian Finches (green and blue back) gradually turns black. So, if a green or blue Gouldian Finch has a black beak, it is definitely a female. This sign only applies to adult birds because all juvenile green and blue Gouldian Finches have black beaks.

Female gouldian finch with black beak

Sign 4: Belly color

For Gouldian Finches with green and yellow backs, male birds have a dark yellow belly, while females have a lighter yellow belly. In blue Gouldian Finches, the yellow belly will turn into a cream color in both males and females.

Male green backs Gouldian Finches have a dark yellow belly and Female Gouldian Finches have a light yellow belly.

Sign 5: Tail length

In all colors, adult male Gouldian Finches usually have a longer feathers at the end of their tails. However, this sign should only be used to reinforce other signs because sometimes females can also have long tails.

Male Gouldian Finches have a long tail.

Sign 6: Head color

For Gouldian Finches with red and Yellow heads, the head color of male birds is usually sharp and extends evenly to both sides of the head, while females often have a blurred black color on their heads. If a bird has entirely black feathers on its head, other signs listed above must be observed.

Female gouldian finches with a smudy read head and male gouldian finch with a pure red head.