African Firefinch

It is found in Angola, Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The status of the species is evaluated as Least Concern.

The African Firefinch is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

This clip of the dawn song of African Firefinch was recorded in mixed woodland (Acacia/Commiphora/Combretum/Brachystegia) with a thick understory of Lantana bushes and Hyperhenia grasses at Kigwambimbi, Iringa on 22 April 2008. It was originally (miss) identified as Jameson's Firefinch as this is the only species that had been recorded at this locality over the past 10 years. However, this year it was pointed out to me by Jeff DaCosta that African FF was also present. More

The African Firefinch (Lagonosticta rubricata) is a common species of estrildid finch found in almost all parts of Africa. It has an estimated global extent of occurrence of 5,400,000 km². It is found in Angola, Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, C??te d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. More

The African Firefinch is dark reddish little bird, The top of the head is dark-grey, and this fades to dark brown on the back. The underparts are a deep reed, except for the lower belly and under-tail coverts which are black. The female is pinkish brown below, with a paler grey head and paler grey-brown back. More

page 1063 also a picture of the African Firefinch on page 1056. The African Firefinch belongs to the family of birds classified as Estrildidae. According to the Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology the African Firefinch is also known by these other names: Brown-backed Firefinch, Ruddy Waxbill, Dark Firefinch, Black-vented Crimson Firefinch. More