Mali Firefinch (Lagonosticta virata) [XC235256]
by Bram Piot from Parc national de Bamako, Mali (call, song)
Mali Firefinch (Lagonosticta virata) [XC405707]
by id from Dindefelo-Segou, K\u00e9dougou, Senegal (song)
Subspecies
Jameson's Firefinch (Lagonosticta rhodopareia) and Chad Firefinch (Lagonosticta umbrinodorsalis) (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) are been lumped into Lagonosticta rhodopareia, while retaining virata (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) as a separate species contra Dowsett and Forbes-Watson (1993) who lump all three taxa into Jameson's Firefinch (Lagonosticta rhodopareia). This treatment is under review by the BirdLife Taxonomic Working Group.
Has been suggested as forming a superspecies with Chad Firefinch (Lagonosticta umbrinodorsalis) and Jameson's Firefinch (Lagonosticta rhodopareia), and the three sometimes treated as conspecific. Superspecies treatment, if appropriate, would presumably include also recently described Rock Firefinch (Lagonosticta sanguinodorsalis).