Photo: Mickey Samuni-Blank / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-bellied Firefinch
Lagonosticta rara
Black-bellied Firefinch (Lagonosticta rara) — 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 Black-bellied Firefinch (Lagonosticta rara) is a member of the Estrildidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 10.4 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 rara
Quick facts
- Weight
- 10.4 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Estrildidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
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Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-bellied 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 Black-bellied Firefinch is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black-bellied Firefinch (Lagonosticta rara) is a member of the Estrildidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF w, c, e.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 10.4 g, with a wing length of about 5 cm and a tail of around 4.1 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 2.4 million km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-bellied Firefinch?
The Black-bellied Firefinch is a very small bird that weighs around 10.4 g.
Where does the Black-bellied Firefinch live?
The Black-bellied Firefinch is found across Africa with a range covering AF w, c, e, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Black-bellied Firefinch belong to?
The Black-bellied Firefinch (Lagonosticta rara) belongs to the Estrildidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Black-bellied Firefinch eat?
The Black-bellied Firefinch is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Black-bellied Firefinch migrate?
The Black-bellied Firefinch is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black-bellied 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.
How large is the Black-bellied Firefinch's range?
The Black-bellied Firefinch has a mapped global range of about 2.4 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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