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Identifying Firefinches in American Aviculture

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Identifying Firefinches in American Aviculture ESTRILDID FINCHES of the firefinches. IN AVICULTURE ... Bar-breasted Firefinch Stash and Carol Anne Buckley Generally a little smaller than the Magnolia, NJ Senegal, the Bar-breasted Firefinch (Lagonosticta nifopicta) is very aggres­ sive. As the name implies, this bird is generously peppered with white dots which may form small bars and may be quite variable. This species borders on being non­ existent in American aviculture. This is a difficult species to sex and difficult to Identifying Firefinches in generation breed. Breeders must learn to cooperate to keep this species going. Bronneiceps American Aviculture The only other species with a red beak in American aviculture is the Lagonosticata s. brunneiceps. We ntil recently, the genus of es and the illustration of the firefinch believe this to be a distinct species, not estrildids known as firefinches, will undoubtedly be this one. just a subspecies of the Senegal. We U Lagonosticta, was not taken Generally described as a good aviary will offer our evidence for this in a seriously here or abroad. We can recall subject, it does well in a community separate article elsewhere in this issue reading, not too long ago,an article in setting. With this we hesitantly agree of Watchbird. a foreign finch publication which stat­ although we are not fond of mixed ed that there are at least 30 species of aviaries. This bird has been established BlACK-BEAKED VARIETIES firefinches which have been bred in Australia (the only one to be so) due Jameson's Firefinch together and distilled into just one to its ease of housing as opposed to Next we have the darker billed species. other species in the genus. We do not types starting with the Jameson's In this country we received a phone like the term "beginner's bird" as this Firefinch (Lagonosticta rhodopareia). call from a fancier inquiring about fire­ species has had its share of abuse, but This is the only firefinch with a distinct finches. When asked what kind she it is the easiest of all the firefinches to pinkish or flesh-colored hue. The hens had, the answer came back, "A male." house and propagate. We know of tend to be much paler than the cocks. Obviously, she did not understand the many fanciers who do well breeding When excited or nervous, it makes a question, as we meant what species, this bird in community settings, prov­ curious "raspberry" type of noise as it not what sex. ing its durability and potential to flies from perch to perch. This type of comment reveals the become an established species. Unfortunately, many breeders who prevailing ignorance about firefinches. Not a particularly impressive bird in claim to have this bird do not. They It is quite frustrating when people coloration (the hens, in particular, have merely have a color variety of the lump all firefinches together as if there a distinct yellowish cast, and both Senegal or a Dark Firefinch, or have were just one species. sexes have white dots on the upper only one Jameson's, incorrectly paired The truth is, there are 10, possibly belly and chest) or size, there is not with another species of firefinch. The 11, species of firefinches of which much to draw the breeder of rare Jameson's is on the verge of disap­ eight or nine are known to have been finches to this bird. Rather, it is a pearing from this country. imported into this country. We shall species which is cast aside when rarer Dark Firef'mch discuss them in order oftheir availabil­ Lagonostictas are offered. The Dark Firefinch (Lagonosticta ity in the U.S. Black-bellied Firef'mch rubricata) is easily twice the size ofthe Firefinches are easily broken down Less common than the Senegal is Senegal, a very rich blood red, and, as into two trees of development-the the Black-bellied (Lagonosticta rara) if that isn't enough, is blessed with a red-beaked and the black-beaked vari­ which is far more common than its sci­ beautiful song. In fact, its vocalizations eties. First we shall discuss the red­ entific name implies. This species is are so musical and loud that, when beaked. generally the same size as the Senegal one becomes familiar with it, the song but with a richer red, a black ventral is the most distinctive characteristic of RED-BEAKED VARIETIES region and fewer white dots. The hens this species. Sadly, we know of no Senegal Firef'mch tend tend to be a paler red than the serious effort to establish this bird in The most common and the one cocks. This species should be kept one spite of its notable size, beautiful col­ with which most people are familiar is pair per flight, as numbers are declin­ oration and remarkable song. This bird the Senegal Firefinch (Lagonosticta ing rapidly, and now serious efforts are is rapidly vanishing from American avi­ senegala). Pick up any book on finch- required to propagate this and the rest culture. afa WATCHBIRD 23 well in a small flock of their own kind. It is our firm belief that when import restrictions finally put an end to the influx of new stock, the firefinches will be among the first finch casualties. Despite the relative ease of propagat­ ing firefinches, American aviculturists do not seem to care enough about these attractive African estrildids to even learn of their wonderful diversity of species, let alone work together to keep bloodlines pure and gene pools liquid and vibrant. We cannot afford to take any estril­ did genus for granted, least of all one which represents so many unique yet, sadly, mainly unknown species. Lagonosticta larvata hen. This is possibly the rarestfinch to have been documented in American aviculture. Kulikoro Firefinch Violet-eared (Uraeginthus granatina). Practically identical to the Dark Vinaceous Firefinch Firefinch, the Kulikoro Firefinch Probably the rarest and most striking (Lagonosticta virata) lacks a notched subspecies is the Vinaceous Firefinch second primary feather which the (Lagonosticta v. vinacea). This bird has Dark ha . The best way for the uniniti­ been described as a cross between the ated to distinguish between the two i twinspots (Hypargos) and the firefinch­ by the vocalizations. The Dark pro­ es. This appears to be not too far from duces a rich assortment of bells, whis­ the truth. This is the largest of the fire­ tles and grunts which is lacking in 'the finches and its mannerisms allow the Kulikoro whose ong is basically bells. novice to confuse it with the Rosy Hen Kulikoros tend to be slightly paler Twinspot (Hypargos margaritatus). than the cocks. The Vinaceous is also a masked Black-faced Firef1nch variety with the mask absent in the Two distinct subspecies ofthe Black-masked One of the truly rare forms of fire­ hens. The overall color is of a beautiful Firefinches. The grayer Lagonosticta vinacea finch is the Black-faced Firefinch rosy hue. These birds have come into nigricollis in the rear with Lagonosticta vinacea (Lagonosticta nigricollis). It has always the country in the past with shipments vinacea in the foreground. Both are cocks. been difficult to obtain. Its striking of Rosy-rumped Waxbills (Estrilda basic gray pattern is accented with a rhodopyga), however, the Vinaceous is black face mask which, however, is a much larger and far more striking absent in the hens. Cocks have been bird. Even so, in conSignments of hun­ available in the past but hens have dreds of Rosy-rumped Waxbills it does always been a rarity. Curiously, this indeed take an alert eye to spot one or bird differs from the other firefinches two Vinaceous individuals as this fire­ in that it i almost a community bird in finch is imported only in small num­ nature. Small flocks of three or so indi­ bers and, even then, accidently. With viduals will stay together while wan­ the advent of the recent restrictive dering around the bird room. laws, the importation of this unusual These birds have an unusual vocal­ firefinch is rapidly drawing to a close. ization. Their courtship involves one sharp note which is produced endles ­ FIREFINCHES IN THE FUTIJRE ly, but which i soon elongated and Sadly, all the races of firefinches are bent producing an interesting variation. rapidly disappearing from American Unfortunately, it i our belief that aviculture. In particular, we grieve the this bird will not be established in this passing of the black-masked varieties country. The Black-faced is about the L. nigricollis and L. tarvata, as these are same size as the Kulikoro but more far less aggressive than the stereotypi­ Cock Dark Firefinch (Lagonosticta rubricata). streamlined in body shape, similar to the cal Lagonosticta and do surprisingly 24 May/June 1997.
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