Which Australian finch has red, black or yellow facial colour forms?

The Gouldian finch has red, black or yellow facial colour forms.

This vividly coloured grassfinch is native to northern Australia, where it lives in tropical savannas near water and feeds largely on grass seeds. Adult birds commonly show green backs, purple chests and yellow bellies, while the face may be red, black or yellow. These colour forms can occur in the same population.

The species was named after Elizabeth Gould, who illustrated birds collected during John Gould’s work on Australian fauna. Its scientific name, Erythrura gouldiae, commemorates her contribution through the common name.

Gouldian finches are popular in aviculture, but wild populations face habitat changes, altered fire patterns and disease. They are sometimes confused with zebra finches, which are more widespread and have very different striped facial and chest markings.