Jameson’s Firefinch
Lagonosticta rhodopareia
Bushveld. Head, underparts and rump pinkish-red; upperparts brown washed pinkish-red; bill blue-black.
Finches, Mannikins, Twinspots, Waxbills
LC
Not Endemic
Description
Common resident. The reddest firefinch; bill blackish in both sexes. Male has the crown, nape and mantle washed pink. Rest of upper parts less dark than [African Firefinch]; underparts rose-pink. Female more orange-pink on underparts. Immature male (see illustration) more uniformly brown above; below rose-pink with a brownish wash on lateral breast. Has a tinkling ‘trrr-trrr’ alarm note plus various musical calls ‘tewee-tewee…’, ‘fweeee’ or ‘zik, zik’. Frequents thickets and rank grass in thornveld, and riparian and secondary growth around cultivated lands. Mostly found in drier situations than [African Firefinch]. Is host to [Purple Indigobird].
Quick Facts
Size
11 cm - S
Names
A: Jamesonvuurvinkie
Z: insewane
G: Rosenamarant, Jamesons 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
