Photo: Francesco Veronesi from Italy / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Bar-breasted Firefinch
Lagonosticta rufopicta
Bar-breasted Firefinch (Lagonosticta rufopicta) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Bar-breasted Firefinch (Lagonosticta rufopicta) is a member of the Estrildidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 9.3 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Estrildidae Waxbills, Munias & Allies
- Genus Lagonosticta
- Species rufopicta
Quick facts
- Weight
- 9.3 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Estrildidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Bar-breasted Firefinch is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Bar-breasted Firefinch is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Bar-breasted Firefinch (Lagonosticta rufopicta) belongs to the Estrildidae family of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF w, c.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 9.3 g, with a wing length of about 4.9 cm and a tail of around 3.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 3.3 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Bar-breasted Firefinch?
The Bar-breasted Firefinch is a very small bird that weighs around 9.3 g.
Where does the Bar-breasted Firefinch live?
The Bar-breasted Firefinch is found across Africa with a range covering AF w, c, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Bar-breasted Firefinch belong to?
The Bar-breasted Firefinch (Lagonosticta rufopicta) belongs to the Estrildidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Bar-breasted Firefinch eat?
The Bar-breasted Firefinch is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Bar-breasted Firefinch migrate?
The Bar-breasted Firefinch is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Bar-breasted Firefinch endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Bar-breasted Firefinch make?
1 real field recording of the Bar-breasted Firefinch — including its begging call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Bar-breasted Firefinch's range?
The Bar-breasted Firefinch has a mapped global range of about 3.3 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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