Lagonosticta rara
The Black-bellied Firefinch (Lagonosticta rara) is a striking passerine bird belonging to the Estrildidae family, known as the estrildid finches or waxbills. Males are particularly vibrant, sporting a rich crimson over the head, breast, and rump, sharply contrasting with their defining black belly and vent, and greyish-brown upperparts and wings. Females are subtly duller, exhibiting less extensive red on the head and breast, and having a buffy-grey underparts with the black restricted to the...
Occurs in a variety of open to semi-open habitats, including moist grasslands, savannas, woodland edges, and clearings, typically at low to mid-elevations below 1,500 meters.
Primarily granivorous, feeding on small grass seeds gleaned from the ground, with a supplementary intake of small insects, especially during the breeding season to provision young.
Diurnal, the Black-bellied Firefinch primarily forages on the ground in pairs or small family groups, often associating with other small granivorous birds. Foraging involves systematically pecking at tiny grass seeds on bare patches or among short vegetation. During the breeding season, males est...
The Black-bellied Firefinch occupies a broad geographical band across West and Central Africa. Its range stretches from countries like Senegal and Gambia in the west, eastward through Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, and the Centr...
Least Concern
- The male Black-bellied Firefinch engages in a charming courtship display, holding a grass stem in its bill while bowing and singing to impress the female. - Despite its small size, about 10-11 cm, its bold black belly makes it one of the most distinctive firefinches in its range. - Like many Af...