Lagonosticta umbrinodorsalis
The Chad Firefinch (*Lagonosticta umbrinodorsalis*) is a strikingly beautiful, small estrildid finch, measuring approximately 10-11 cm (4 inches) in length and weighing a mere 7.5-10 grams. Males boast a vibrant crimson to dark reddish-pink on their face, throat, breast, and flanks, sharply contrasting with dark umbrous-brown upperparts—a distinctive feature lending to its scientific name, meaning 'dark-backed.' Small white spots pepper its flanks, and its bill is a unique greyish-blue with a...
Found in dry savannas, thorn scrub, and acacia woodlands, often near water or cultivation. Prefers low to mid-elevation semi-arid plains.
Primarily granivorous, feeding on small grass seeds gleaned from the ground. Supplements its diet with small insects, particularly during the breeding season.
This diurnal firefinch spends much of its active day foraging discreetly on the ground, gleaning tiny grass seeds and small invertebrates from sparse vegetation. Typically observed in pairs or small family groups, it occasionally joins mixed-species flocks with other estrildids and waxbills, part...
The Chad Firefinch is endemic to the Chad Basin in Central Africa, possessing one of the most restricted distributions among the *Lagonosticta* genus. Its primary range encompasses southwestern Chad, extending into northern Cameroon and the extreme western reaches of the Central African Republic....
Least Concern
- Its scientific name, *umbrinodorsalis*, directly translates to "dark-backed," referencing its distinctive brown upperparts. - The Chad Firefinch is one of the most geographically restricted species within the diverse firefinch genus, *Lagonosticta*. - Like many other African firefinches, it is ...