Sex Gouldian?

[bugaboo5]

Errrgh, so I had this long post written out and attached the pictures. The pictures looked too small posted so I clicked on one of them and it took me to imageshack and alas, now my post is gone before I hadn't posted it (I had it on Preview). I hate it when I lose my work.

Oy, to re-write what I had in basic shortness. I have this Gouldian whom I believe to be a male. He is red head and blue back but I have no idea what breast color he is. HE may actually even be a SHE so I was hoping the Gouldian experts might be able to chime in and confirm whether or not this Gouldian is in fact male or female.

I am completely stumped on the breast color because in person, it appears as opal powdery pink - almost like a light luminescent pink. I thought maybe he/she might be a lilac breast but in comparison to photos that I've seen online, his/her breast color is nowhere near the lilac purple tint that I've seen.

I've noticed several people here can sex and tell the mutation of Gouldian chicks that don't even have feathers yet so I was hoping maybe someone can accurately sex and tell me what breast color my fully feathered Gouldian is? He/She is a beautiful bird but is currently housed with two of my canaries as he/she has a slight streak of being a bully; especially to other Gouldians. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Please click the photo for a larger version of the photo.

[lea]

beautiful male

[bugaboo5]

Oh, okay. So he is a male? How can you tell? And do you recognize his breast color by any chance? Thanks so much for your help!

[lea]

his body is brighter and head mask bigger than female.
as expl female

his breast color looks white whit purple reflection for me
anyway, formally it is white, i think

[lovemyfinch]

Beautiful speciman of a male gouldian

[bugaboo5]

Thank you so much for that explanation with the photo of your beautiful hen! Ah, so my male is a RH (Red Head), WB (White Breast), BB (Blue Back). How wonderful! Thank you! Haha I agree, his breast does not look white to me but then again, his head does not look visually red either.

Thanks again and thank you both for the compliments.

[lea]

its not my hen, but that one nice too

[CandoAviary]

Sometimes the white breast will retain a little dark pigment allowing some color to remain in a WHITE breast. The bird will most likely molt out as a white breast. Here is a pair I have, the one had a pink/rose tone to the breast but did molt out white with the next molt


compared to a white breast






There is also a breast color know as the lilac breast. In males it is usually a bright medium lilac, but sometimes in the females it can become very light pink.
This is a hen with a very light lilac breast.

[bugaboo5]

Oh geez, well I most certainly respect your opinion. In your eyes, what do you think my Gouldian is? Would you say male or female? All that I know is that this Gouldian is a older bird (3+ years). It's breast color is similar to that of your first photo.

Beautiful photos and birds by the way.

[debbie276]

Have you heard your bird sing at all??

[CandoAviary]

Thanks Bugaboo5,
It is a male, the mask is very prominant, the blue around the head very brilliant. I can see some white peaking through the pink so I am willing to bet it will molt out white.
I don't have a blue back lilac male pic to show but here is a yellow lilac that has a simular color as a male blue lilac breast would have, as you can see it is much more of a purple tint than a pink tint. The only time I see the permanent pinkesh color is on hens.
Lilac breast male


I also notice that the bird has a black cloosed band. This would be a 2010 band? look on the band and see what the year date may be, this bird may be younger than you were told? Or is it not a NFSS band? A personal leg band?
He is a nice looking bird, I would love to have a blue that retained the pink breast, I love that soft breast color. Maybe you have something special

[bugaboo5]

LOL, well, I thought I saw him singing and dancing a few weeks ago but I was under heavy medication for allergies at the time (Allegra and Singulair) so I'm not sure if I was hallucinating or not. I moved him with my canaries because I do remember him chasing the other Gouldians around. I haven't specifically heard him sing since because the canaries usually over power in sound and he appears to have lost his "groove" since he's been removed from his own kind.

Thanks for sharing all those photos! I'm a huge fan of your Gouldians - they are so gorgeous. Based on your lilac breast male, mine is definitely not lilac breast. I'll wait to see if mine molts out of his breast color. Believe it or not, I'm pretty sure his band says 2007. I have to agree that I love the soft breast color as well. I'll keep a eye on "him" to see if he does any hopping and singing when I get home tonight. Playing YouTube videos of other Gouldians usually get my other males grooving.

[CandoAviary]

Yes, keep me updated on this bird. I love the gouldians also and especially the oddballs

[GOULDYGIRL]

Just have to say, that yellow is Gorgeous Candace!!!!

I had a hen with a very light breast color, it was so light but not white. It had a purple sheen to it. I thought it might be a lilac breast but then was told it was probably a dirty white breast. It was pretty and different nonetheless, just like your beautiful male.

Renee

[CandoAviary]

Thank You Renee, He is my first BH LB sf YB that I have bred. He just finished his juvie molt and is 6 months old, can't wait to see his adult colors He is definately a keeper and a future breed stud here