Gouldian Finch - Melanistic

GOULDIAN FINCH
ERYTHRURA GOULDIAE

MODIFICATIONS

MELANISTIC

© H.J de Vos

As you can see on the pictures below, melanistic Gouldian Finches are remarkable birds. Their chest colour has become iridescent, as we know it in tanagers and colibris.

The whole bird has become darker, the back is dark green, the belly is dirty yellow and the blue on the head has mostly disappeared.

In the beginning people thought that the Melanistic Gouldian was a new mutation, but it seems this appearance started outside of the genetic factors and is therefore named “modification”.
This change of phenotype can be caused by a lack of suitable light, but a hormonal cause is also possible.

This appearance is not uncommon in other varieties of birds as well.

Melanistic birds can produce melanistic babies, but its also possible they will revert back to the normal colour after moulting.