African Firefinch
Lagonosticta rubricata
Bushveld. Face, throat, breast, flanks and rump red; above, including crown, grey-brown; bill blue-black.
Finches, Mannikins, Twinspots, Waxbills
LC
Not Endemic
Description
Common resident. The bill appears black in the field. Identified by grey crown and nape plus blackish belly in the male. In Zimbabwe, crown and nape are washed with pink; then differs from [Jameson’s Firefinch] in distinctly browner wings and mantle. Has a trilling, bell-like call involving ‘chit-chit-chit’ sounds and ending with ‘wink-wink-wink’; also a stuttering alarm call. Pairs and small parties occur in dense bushveld, forest fringes and in thorn and grass tangles. Prefers moister, shadier situations than [Jameson’s Firefinch]. Is host to Dusky Indigobird.
Quick Facts
Size
11 cm - S
Names
A: Kaapse Vuurvinkie
Z: ubucubu
G: Dunkelroter Amarant
Bird Family
Small, conical-billed, ground- or grass-feeding seed-eaters, although some will also eat insects. They usually have colourful plumage, although females are usually more drab than males. They generally occur in pairs, or are gregarious when not breeding.
Distribution
Gallery
Behaviour
Breeding
Habitat
Pairs and small parties occur in dense bushveld, 'forest' fringes and in thorn and grass tangles.
