Species Conservation Summary
Gouldian Finch
Erythrura gouldiae (Gould, 1844)
Estrildidae Conservation status
Near Threatened D1
Reasons for listing
Although well below historical levels, population appears
to have stopped declining but may contract to near 1000
mature individuals at the end of the dry season
Status 2000
Endangered C2a(ii)
Reason for change in 2010: sustained evidence that
declines have ceased
Status 1990
Endangered C2a(ii)
Taxonomy
No infraspecific taxa described
Taxonomic uniqueness: medium (29 genera/family, 12
species/genus, 1 subspecies/species)
Range
Northern Australia from Cape York Peninsula through
north-west Queensland and the northern Northern Territory to the Kimberley Region of Western Australia (Higgins
et al. 2006; O’Malley et al. 2006). Non-breeding birds disperse widely: a juveniles banded in Wyndham (WA) was
recaptured a few weeks later 200 km away at Newry (NT)
(S. Pryke, pers. comm.) and 4 birds were recorded on the
Georgina River at Ethabouka Reserve in the Simpson
Desert (M. Mathieson pers. comm.). Genetic analyses of
mitochondrial markers indicate no population structuring
across the species range, however analyses of nuclear
markers indicate contemporary gene flow from Kimberley
to the NT (Esparza-Salas in litt.). In Qld there are no recent
breeding records but since 2005 birds have been sighted at
at least 3 sites on Cape York Peninsula, on the Atherton
Tablelands, and at several sites in and around Boodjamulla
National Park. In the NT there are recent breeding records
at well-known sites in the Yinberrie Hills and Newry, as
well as at Wollogorang (D. Baker-Gabb in litt.) and near
Maningrida (R. Noske pers. comm.). In the eastern Kimberley, 8–12 isolated breeding populations of 40 to 120
adults are known (S. Pryke in litt.) as well as populations at
Mornington Sanctuary.
Abundance
The population size of the Gouldian Finch is extremely
difficult to estimate. Since 2004 flocks of 100+ birds have
been seen by birdwatchers at multiple, well-separated
sites during the dry season from western Qld through the
NT, including near Darwin (400+) and Maningrida in
Arnhem Land (1000+), to the Kimberley (700+ at Mornington Sanctuary). However, >80% of these are juveniles
(Woinarski and Tidemann 1992; Franklin et al. 1998; D.
Franklin in litt.), there is a strongly skewed sex ratio
towards males and a genetic incompatibility between different colour morphs (S. Pryke in litt.), all of which
suggest that the effective population size is much smaller.
Because of the uncertainty a structured elicitation process
was employed using an expert panel (16 members) to
assess all available information using a 2-stage Delphi
technique to minimise biases (Burgman 2005). The panel
concluded that the population was likely to be well above
1000 mature individuals (2400) but, to be precautionary,
agreed that the total, across multiple locations, could be
close to 1000 when finch numbers reach their annual
minimum during the wet season. Trend data from annual
counts in the Yinberrie Hills for 1996–2004 suggest
numbers fluctuate but have not declined (O. Price in
litt.). Data collected since have not been analysed. There
was also no evidence of a decline at Mornington Wildlife
Sanctuary from 2004 to 2007 (S. Legge in litt.). The
expert committee concluded that the population is not
currently declining.
Ecology
Gouldian Finches feed almost exclusively on grass seed and
depend on a restricted variety of grasses which seed at different times through the year (Dostine and Franklin 2002;
O’Malley et al. 2006). They nest in tree hollows, lay an
average clutch of 5 eggs, and may raise several clutches in a
season, but productivity averages 1.5 fledglings per pair
(Tidemann et al. 1999). When breeding, they use small
patches of suitable open woodland areas usually on ridges
dominated by cavity bearing trees (such as White Northern
Gum Eucalyptus brevifolia in the west and Territory Salmon
Gum E. tintinnans in the east; Tidemann et al. 1992a) and
seeding grasses (e.g. sorghum Sarga spp., spinifex Trodia
spp.) within 2–4 km of perennial waterholes or springs
(Dostine et al. 2001; O’Malley 2006). After breeding they
move to areas with different seeding grasses (e.g. annual
spear grasses or native sorghum Sarga spp.), flock and move
across the broader landscape (O’Malley 2006). A generation
© Birds Australia 2011
Published by CSIRO Publishing, http://www.publish.csiro.au/
Citation: Garnett ST, Szabo JK, Dutson G (2011) The Action Plan for Australian Birds 2010. CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne.
Current eligibility against IUCN Red List Criteria
IUCN
category
A
Criteria eligibility
Not applicable: past, current or future population
declines are thought unlikely to exceed 20% in any
10-year period
B
Not applicable: >10 locations, not severely fragmented,
population fluctuations not extreme
C
Not applicable: no continuing population decline or
extreme fluctuations
IUCN Red List assessment data
Estimate
Reliability
1 370 000 km2
stable
high
high
Area of occupancy
trend
2000 km2
increasing
low
medium
No. of mature individuals
trend
2400
increasing
low
medium
1
medium
>10
medium
Extent of occurrence
trend
No. subpopulations
D
Near Threatened: population near 1000 mature
individuals
No. locations
E
Not applicable: no population viability analysis
undertaken
Global population share
time of 2.7 years (BirdLife International 2011) is derived
from an age at first breeding of 1.0 years and a maximum
longevity in the wild of 4.4 years, both values elicited from
an expert committee.
Threats
Regular extensive fires are known to reduce body condition and other health indices, particularly during the wet
season and early breeding season (S. Legge in litt.).
Heavy grazing by cattle is known to reduce seed yields in
grasses important to the finches (Crowley and Garnett
2001). In some areas, fire affects hollow availability,
although nest hollow availability and productivity of
juveniles appear not be limiting at most sites (Tidemann
et al. 1999; Brazill-Boast et al. 2010, 2011; S. Pryke in
litt.). However, although grazing is intensifying (Garnett
et al. 2009) and c.50% of the finch’s EOO is burnt annually (Russell-Smith et al. 1997; Edwards et al. 2001,
2003), both threats have been mitigated at some sites
through active management for finch conservation
(S. Legge in litt.). Historically an air-sac mite Sternostoma tracheacolum (Tidemann et al. 1992b; Bell 1996)
also appeared to increase mortality in the wild and may
have been a proximal cause of decline in a population
already stressed by environmental change. Trapping for
aviculture was substantial in the past but has not
occurred to any extent for 30 years. There may be
ongoing localised threats to some breeding habitat from
development such as mining. Given the level of ongoing
threats, any indication from monitoring or the frequency
of birdwatcher reports that the species is again declining
would lead to a reappraisal of the status.
Conservation objectives
1. Ongoing increase in sightings
2. Key sites with improved fire and grazing regimes
3. Stable or improved trends in population and health
indices at key sites across entire range
Information required
1. Numerical trends and health indices at key sites
across entire range
Management actions required
1. Continue monitoring of numbers and health indices
at key sites
Generation time
2.7 years
low
100%
high
2. Promote as an indicator of sustainable cattle and fire
management
Bibliography
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and Kytoditidae) of the Gouldian Finch, Erythrura gouldiae,
and some co-occurring birds in the Northern Territory.
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Brazill-Boast J, Pryke SR, Griffith SC (2010) Nest-site utilisation and niche overlap in two sympatric, cavity-nesting
finches. Emu 110, 170–177.
Brazill-Boast J, van Rooij E, Pryke SR, Griffith SC (2011) Interference from long-tailed finches constrains reproduction in
the endangered Gouldian finch. Journal of Animal Ecology
80, 39–48.
Burgman MA (2005) Risks and Decisions for Conservation and
Environmental Management. Cambridge University Press,
Cambridge, New York.
Crowley GM, Garnett ST (2001) Growth, seed production and
effect of defoliation in an early flowering perennial grass,
Alloteropsis semialata (Poaceae), on Cape York Peninsula,
Australia. Australian Journal of Botany 49, 735–743.
Dostine PL, Franklin DC (2002) A comparison of the diet of
three finch species in the Yinberrie Hills area, Northern
Territory. Emu 102,159–164.
Dostine PL, Johnson GC, Franklin DC, Zhang Y, Hempel C
(2001) Seasonal use of savanna landscapes by the Gouldian
finch, Erythrura gouldiae, in the Yinberrie Hills area, Northern Territory. Wildlife Research 28, 445–458.
Edwards A, Hauser P, Anderson M, McCartney J, Armstrong
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© Birds Australia 2011
Published by CSIRO Publishing, http://www.publish.csiro.au/
Citation: Garnett ST, Szabo JK, Dutson G (2011) The Action Plan for Australian Birds 2010. CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne.
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Comments received from
Barry Baker, David Baker-Gabb, Phil Bell,
Allan Burbidge, Andrew Burbidge, Stuart Butchart,
Les Christidis, Bruce Doran, Hugh Ford, Don Franklin,
Simon Griffiths, Ian Gynther, Tim Holmes,
Arthur Keates, Sheryl Keates, Alex Kutt, Sarah Legge,
Richard Loyn, Peter Menkhorst, Charles Meredith,
Tim Nerard, Richard Noske, Penny Olsen, Sarah Pryke,
Del Richards, Andy Symes, Simon Ward, David Watson,
John Westaway, John Woinarski
© Birds Australia 2011
Published by CSIRO Publishing, http://www.publish.csiro.au/
Citation: Garnett ST, Szabo JK, Dutson G (2011) The Action Plan for Australian Birds 2010. CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne.