- Lagonosticta rubricata
Identification
This is a small, wary but brightly coloured ground-feeding bird. It is also known as the Blue-billed Firefinch because of its bill colour.
Distribution
Africa south of the Sahara.
Taxonomy
Subspecies (Fry et al, 2004): L. r. rubricata: South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique south of the Save River. L. r. landanae: Cabina, lower Congo, western Angola. L. r. haematocephala: East Africa; Ethiopia to Uganda and south to Zimbabwe and Mozambique north of the Save River. L. r. congica: Cameroon to southern Sudan, western Uganda and Zaire. L. r. polionata: Guinea to Nigeria.
Habitat
Bush and tall grass. Thickets in thornveld, riverine scrub, forest edges and suburbia. In more moist habitats than most firefinches.
Behaviour
Feeds on small seeds and small insects on the ground.
References
Fry H, Keith S,Woodcook M & Willis I. 2004. Birds of Africa Vol VII: Sparrows to Buntings. Princeton University Press. ISBN 0713665319
