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Estrildidae
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Lagonosticta
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- Chad Firefinch
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- Chad Firefinch
- Chad Firefinch
- Chad Firefinch
- Chad Firefinch

Chad Firefinch Lagonosticta umbrinodorsalis Scientific name definitions

Robert B. Payne
Version: 1.0 — Published March 4, 2020
Text last updated June 19, 2013

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Originally Appeared in

HBW Alive

Field Identification

10–11 cm. Male has crown and nape pale grey, mantle, back and upper­wing-coverts umber-brown to cinnamon, rump and uppertail-coverts red, tail feathers black with red outer webs; flight-feathers dark brown, outer primaries broad (not emargin­ated); superciliary area, lores, side of face, chin and throat to upper breast pinkish-red, side of breast and flanks with small white spots, belly pink to vinous red, undertail-coverts black; iris dark brown, eyering pink (brighter in breeding season); bill long, straight and narrow, bluish-grey and slate; legs grey. Female is similar to male, but upperparts brown, side of face grey (lores red), paler reddish below. Juvenile has crown and back brown, underparts ochre, lacks spots, bill black.

Systematics History

In the past sometimes considered conspecific with the Jameson's Firefinch (Lagonosticta rhodopareia) and Mali Firefinch (Lagonosticta virata); when treated as a subspecies of the Jameson's Firefinch the subspecies epithet bruneli often used, but latter a junior synonym of present name. Monotypic.

Subspecies

Monotypic.

Distribution

N Cameroon and extreme SW Chad.

Habitat

Rocky hillsides and rocky granite outcroppings with scattered thickets, woods and grass, also well-vegetated sites in plains; along streams and rivers in rainy season, and where small pools remain in dry season.

Movement

Resident. In Cameroon (Poli), local altitudinal movement from 400 m to wetter upland sites above 800 m in dry season.

Diet and Foraging

Small grass seeds, taken on the ground. Forages in pairs.

Sounds and Vocal Behavior

Calls include soft "tsit", high-pitched twitter, soft "chew", slow trill; alarm "pitpitpit". Voice nearly identical to that of the Rock Firefinch (Lagonosticta sanguinodorsalis).

Breeding

Breeds apparently in Aug–Nov, in wet season. No other information.

Conservation Status

Conservation status on Birdlife LC Least Concern

Not globally threatened. Generally fairly common, but local. In N Cameroon, apparently known only from type locality (Sakjé), on upper R Benue. In Chad, occurs near border with Central African Republic; found in mountains of Lam, near Dagbao (25 km SE of Baibokoum). Firefinches observed in Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park, in N Central African Republic, and reported as African Firefinch (Lagonosticta rubricata), may be referable to present species; further fieldwork required.

Distribution of the Chad Firefinch - Range Map
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  • Year-round
  • Migration
  • Breeding
  • Non-Breeding
Distribution of the Chad Firefinch

eBird and Macaulay Library

Recommended Citation

Payne, R. B. (2020). Chad Firefinch (Lagonosticta umbrinodorsalis), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.reifir1.01
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