How to Sex Gouldian Finches

Anyone who is trying to breed Gouldian finches, or is simply wondering whether a pet is a "he" or a "she," will be relieved to learn that telling male and female Gouldian finches apart from each other is not very difficult. The key is in the bird's coloring.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. 
   Young gouldian finch whose colors have not yet come in

   Wait until the Gouldian finch's adult colors come in at around the age of four months. Before the age of four months, all baby Gouldian finches have the exact same coloring--pale shades of gray, light brown and olive--making it impossible to tell genders apart.

2. 
   Two male gouldian finches on upper branch, female on lower

   Observe the bird among a group of other Gouldians after the finch's colors have come in. Note the differences in coloring among the birds.

3. Identify male Gouldian finches by their bright purple chests and vivid yellow bellies, with a distinct line separating the two colors. Female
   Gouldian finches have lighter purple or sometimes even mauve colored chests that subtly transition into pale yellow. Use these color
   markings as a guideline to determine the gender of the bird. If it's
   still unclear, contact a local breeder for help.

Tips & Warnings

• Note that both male and female finches' face masks can be red, black or yellow, and that these distinctions do not determine gender. If trying to determine the sex of a gouldian finch that is a drastic color variation from the norm, it's best to seek the help of an expert breeder.

Resources

• Gouldian Finch information on Finchworld.com