Description

The Gouldian Finch are vividly multi-coloured with about 75% having black faces. They can be found from Cape York, the north of the Northern Territory to the Kimberley Region of Western Australia. Gouldian finches feed almost exclusively on grass seed and depend on a small number of grass species at different times of the year. They nest in tree hollows and produce 1-2 fledlings per season.

Threats

Vegetation change through altered fire regimes and grazing by introduced herbivores are the factors that have most likely caused the decline in this species and is preventing recovery. Heavy grazing by cattle is known to reduce seed yields in grasses which is an important food source for the Gouldian Finch.

Quollity Conservation Hub's Vulnerability Score:

57

To help compare the relative vulnerability of different species, we have developed a scoring system based on biological and ecological characteristics that influence a species' ability to survive and recover from environmental change and natural disasters.

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The framework is adapted from assessment methods used by conservation experts following the Black Summer bushfires to help identify species most in need of conservation action, research, and recovery funding.

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Each species is assessed using a range of factors, including its conservation status, lifespan, reproductive rate, habitat and dietary requirements, ability to disperse or recover after fire, and the number and severity of threats it faces.

In general, the higher a species' score, the greater its overall vulnerability and risk of decline or extinction.

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Like all conservation assessments, this scoring system is limited by the information currently available. Many threatened species remain poorly studied and receive limited research funding, meaning some assessments rely on the best available scientific knowledge or information from closely related species. As new research becomes available, scores may be updated to reflect our improved understanding.