Rock firefinch

The rock firefinch (Lagonosticta sanguinodorsalis) is a species of estrildid finch found in the Jos Plateau of central Nigeria and in Cameroon. It has an estimated global extent of occurrence of 29,000 km2 (11,000 sq mi). The rock firefinch was discovered recently, in 1998. Rock firefinches fall in the family Estrildidae, which contains small passerine birds of the Old World and Australasia. Rock firefinches seem to be most closely related to Mali firefinches and Chad firefinches. The species name sanguinodorsalis means blood-red back, which was chosen because it describes the vibrant red back color of the male plumage. The status of the species is evaluated as Least Concern.

Rock firefinches are sexually dimorphic, where adult males have more brightly colored plumage than adult females. Males are characterized by a bright red back and a deep red face, throat, breast, and belly. Females are characterized by a reddish-brown back, brownish-gray face, and a greyish-red throat, breast, and belly. A bluish-grey bill is one of the most important defining traits of all rock firefinches. Both males and females have a brownish-grey crown, brownish-red upper wing coverts, deep red rump and upper tail coverts, and white-spotted dark grey flanks and under wing coverts. The wings are dark reddish-brown and the tail is black with red edges on the outer rectrices. Rock firefinches have broad primaries and average wing length of 54 mm (2.1 in). Juvenile rock firefinches are characterized by a paler greyish-brown face and crown and a less red overall plumage compared to adults. Compared to other male firefinches, male rock firefinches have brighter red backs, brownish-grey crowns, and broader primaries that do not have a narrow tip. Compared to other female and juvenile firefinches, female and juvenile rock firefinches have a darker and more reddish overall plumage. Moulting usually coincides with the dry season but can extend into the beginning of the rainy season. Rock firefinches have a variety of distinctive vocalizations. Many of the rock firefinch vocalizations are mimicked by another Jos Plateau bird, called the Vidua maryae, or Jos Plateau indigobird. The Jos Plateau indigobird is a brood parasite of rock firefinches and most likely mimics their songs in order to optimize the success of parasitizing the rock firefinches.