Birdsong field guide
Black-faced Firefinch
Lagonosticta larvata
A small, secretive estrildid finch characterized by the male's striking black facial mask and deep vinaceous plumage.
What it sounds like
A series of high-pitched, thin whistles and a complex song that often incorporates mimicry of other bird species.
Field notes
- Exhibits sexual dimorphism where males have a distinct black mask while females are predominantly grayish-brown with red rumps.
- The species is divided into three distinct subspecies across its range: larvata, vinacea, and nigricollis.
- They are primarily granivorous, foraging on the ground for small grass seeds and occasionally supplement their diet with insects.
- Nests are typically dome-shaped structures made of grass and lined with feathers, placed low in thickets or tall grass.
- Unlike the more common Red-billed Firefinch, this species is less commensal with humans and prefers undisturbed savanna.
Habitat
Dry savannas, open woodlands, and bushy grasslands with tall grass cover.
Range
Sub-Saharan Africa, stretching in a broad belt from Senegal and Gambia east to Ethiopia and south to Uganda.
Similar & commonly confused birds
African FirefinchLagonosticta rubricataBar-breasted FirefinchLagonosticta rufopictaBlack-bellied FirefinchLagonosticta raraBrown FirefinchLagonosticta nitidulaChad FirefinchLagonosticta umbrinodorsalisJameson's FirefinchLagonosticta rhodopareiaMali FirefinchLagonosticta virataRed-billed FirefinchLagonosticta senegala
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