Anjouan Sunbird

Cinnyris comorensis

A small sunbird with a relatively short, slightly downcurved bill. Males are colorful, with green and blue iridescence on the head and breast and a maroon band above the black belly. Females are fairly drab, with streaked dull-yellow underparts. Found in all habitats on the island of Anjouan in the Comoros. In its small range, it is the only sunbird, so it is easily identified by its bill shape. The song is a typical sunbird jumble of high-pitched notes, and the call is a rising whine. 

Identification

The Anjouan sunbird (Cinnyris comorensis) is a species of bird in the sunbird family, Nectariniidae. It is endemic to Anjouan island in the Comoros, where its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. Male birds of this species are more colorful than females. The color of female bird is cloudy yellow, while male bird has 3-4 colors like black, brown, green and blue.

Taxonomy

Genus: Cinnyris; Family: Nectariniidae; Order: Passeriformes.

Scientific name
Cinnyris comorensis
Authority
Peters, W, 1864
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Nectariniidae
Genus
Cinnyris

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Behavior

Migration pattern: Resident species.

Conservation

Population trend: stable.

Population trend
stable

Photos

Distribution

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