Population densities and habitat associations of the range-restricted Rock Firefinch Lagonosticta sanguinodorsalis on the Jos Plateau, Nigeria

Abstract

Population densities, using distance sampling, and habitat associations of the range-restricted Rock Firefinch Lagonosticta sanguinodorsalis were investigated between late May and early July 2002 in a protected site at Amurum on the Jos Plateau, Nigeria, and in unprotected surrounding habitats. Rock Firefinches were strongly associated with inselbergs and rocky outcrops and avoided scrub and abandoned farmland. Density was not significantly higher on the Amurum protected site (0.79 birds/ha; 95% CL 0.51-1.21) than on the unprotected areas (0.55 birds/ha; 95% CL 0.37-0.82). Rock Firefinches were locally common around inselbergs on the Jos Plateau, even where this habitat was unprotected. It remains uncertain to what extent increasing habitat degradation may affect this species' ability to persist as small populations in isolated habitat fragments. Rock Firefinch's host-specific brood parasite, the similarly range-restricted Jos Plateau Indigobird Vidua maryae, was not seen until June during this study, and no density estimate is available. © BirdLife International 2005.