Black-bellied Fire Finch or a hybrid?

[L in Ontario]

Liz
I sent you another response via email less than an hour ago but I sent that before I saw this post...
I know you had a male BlackB. Fire before (and got a female for him from Fleming)... The male fire in that picture seems to be a L. Rubricata (BBFF – Blue-Bellied Firefinch / African Fire)... are you sure this guy is a Black-Bellied Firefinch (Lagonosticta rara)?
L. rara - http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php ... 7&start=15
L. rubricata - http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php ... 2&start=15

I would need a hen of each the Black-face and Black-belly Fire Finch varieties.

I took a bunch more pics today of my new male Fire Finch. I still think he could be a Black-bellied due to... his black belly. Do other Fires have black bellies? However I do note that he seems to have more brown from the top of his head and down the back of his neck. Also there is no red on his beak. So I'm back up in the air about him.

I could email the breeder (Linda - sugarbirds) and ask her for a pic of the parents.

[L in Ontario]

Thanks for taking the time to look over the pics, Fardad for the detailed analysis. Looks like I might have a hybrid... I have asked for parental photos to view his background.

What I found really bizarre is his singing. He sings a lot and he sounds (wait for it...) like a Canary!! He actually sings better than my Canaries!!

[annague]

Liz, I never looked very closely until Fardad said it looked like a Blue Billed Fire not a Blackbelly Fire --but just to add my observations-- my Blackbelly does not have any spots at all and its beak is shorter (by quite a bit) than my Blue Billed Firefinch -- their profiles are quite different and yours has a profile more like my Blue Billed FF.

Also, it's funny that you asked; did other Firefinches have black on their bellies? Yes they do and I discovered that by owning both a Blue Billed and a Black Bellied and seeing them in their Spring plumage -- the Blue Billed has a lot of black on it's belly but not quite as much as my Black Bellied.

Also, my Black Bellied does NOT sing - but my Blue Billed sings wonderfully well (like your bird).

I hope Fardad can help you find out exactly what you have -- whatever he is; he sure is beautiful and you have a great singer, too (added bonus!)

[L in Ontario]

It is sounding more and more like this young bird is a hybrid. I have asked for parental photos and will upload them once received.

Thanks for your thoughts and observations too, Anna - you're good!

[JohnBoy]

Interesting thread!

[annague]

Fardad, that makes sense! Thank you!