Firefinch
Rosenamarant ( Lagonosticta rhodopareia ), female
The Amaranten ( Lagonosticta ) are a genus within the finches. The species occur exclusively in the African continent. One of the species, namely the Felsenamarant, was first described scientifically in 1998.
Description
The Amaranten reach body lengths of between ten and twelve inches. Their plumage has in most species to red to wine-red spring games. In some species, such as the dark red amaranth, this color dominates the plumage. When Pünktchenamarant only the sides of the head and the front chest are tinged with rose. The wings are often drab. Almost all species have white or whitish pink small dot-like spots on the sides of the body. The beaks are blue-gray in many species with a blackish tip. Exceptions which represents, among others, the Landana - amaranth, which has a rose-colored lower mandible and the Pünktchenamarant who has a red beak. Even the Senegal amaranth has a beak that is least partially reddish.
The females are usually paler in color than the males, and among them, the proportion of gray-brown plumage is higher than this.
Circulation area and way of life
The distribution area is sub-Saharan Africa. Some of the species have a very large distribution area and come as the Senegalamarant in almost all suitable habitats in this area before. Among the species with the smallest distribution area includes the Felsenamarant, which is so far only known from the Jos Plateau in northern Nigeria.
The individual species colonize different habitats. Felsenamarant and Reichenow Amaranth colonize rocky terrain with patches of grass and sparse trees. The Dark red amaranth, however, is a bird that is native to the bushes, ferns and grass at the edge of the forest, in the dense bank of bushes and the undergrowth sparse forests and bush interspersed high grass savannas. Dry savannas are the typical habitat for a number of other species. The Braunbürzelamarant other hand, is in the reeds and papyrus belts along major rivers and floodplains and in thickets along river banks and drainage channels at home.
The food of the Amaranten consists mainly of small grass seed that is occasionally supplemented by insects. A particular importance are termites. The breeding season varies even within species, depending on the area of distribution, but often falls on the end of the rainy season. Characteristic of Amaranten is a blade of grass or Federbalz, in which the male carries a blade of grass or a feather in its beak and on the ground or a horizontal branch before the females and abhüpft. The nests are spherical and usually have a side entrance. The clutch typically consist of three to five eggs. The incubation period is about fourteen days and the young birds remain about fifteen days in the nest. They are then usually cared for two more weeks the parents birds.
Attitude
Amaranten play a very different role in the bird trade depending on the type. The Senegalamarant is one of the most popular and widely held African finch species. His Breeding is now regularly over several generations. The Larvenamarant was especially popular in the 19th century. During this period came the subspecies Lagonosticta larvata vinacea, in which the black face mask of the male contrasts particularly strong with the wine-colored breast, very common in the trade. This subspecies is now introduced only irregularly and in small numbers. Their popularity as an ornamental bird has meant that there are a number of German names for these two species. The Felsenamarant and Reichenow- amaranth have been introduced, however, probably never to Europe.
Species
The following types are among the Amaranten:
- Braunbürzelamarant (L. nitidula )
- Dark red amaranth (L. rubricata )
- Felsenamarant (L. sanguinodorsalis )
- Landana Amaranth (L. landanaae )
- Larvenamarant (L. larvata )
- Mali - amaranth (L. virata )
- Pünktchenamarant (L. rufopicta )
- Reichenow- amaranth (L. umbrinodorsalis )
- Rosenamarant (L. rhodopareia )
- Schwarzbauchamarant (L. rara )
- Senegalamarant (L. senegala )