Amethyst Sunbird
Chalcomitra amethystina
Large sunbird with a long but thin bill. Males sometimes look all-black but also show green and maroon iridescent patches in good light. Females have pale eyebrows and streaked underparts. Found in forest, moist scrub, woodland, and gardens. Generally uncommon. The song is a mix of “chyup” notes and higher scratchy notes and twitters. Male is distinctive in good light. Female can be confused with female Scarlet-chested Sunbird but shows an eyebrow stripe and has streaks rather than smudges below. Also similar to female Green-throated Sunbird, but less boldly streaked below than that species.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Chalcomitra amethystina
- Authority
- (Shaw, 1812)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Nectariniidae
- Genus
- Chalcomitra
Range and habitat
It occurs in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Tangara florida
Well-named tanager, mostly emerald-green with trapezoidal black cheek patch, back streaking and wing markings. Small and active, usually found in pairs following mixed feeding flocks in foothill forests and edges. Feeds on fruit. Sexes alike.
Rufous-crowned Elaenia
Elaenia ruficeps
Nondescript flycatcher restricted to savanna scrub on weathered sandy soils. Told from other elaenias by blurry streaking on underparts, relatively indistinct wingbars, and lack of a crest; rufous in crown is difficult to see in the field. Despite localized distribution, may be common in proper habitat. Pairs sit in shrubs or small trees, sallying to foliage for insects and calling frequently. Does not typically associate with other species. Other, similar-sized flycatchers in habitat are clear whitish below. Call is one or two odd, burry, growling notes; members of a pair often answer each other.
Grenada Wren
Troglodytes grenadensis
Small brownish wren found only on Grenada. Plumage cinnamon-brown overall, with dark barring on the wings and tail. Lacks white eyebrow. Generally more arboreal than mainland “House Wrens”, occurring in dense brushy woodland throughout the island. Often perches conspicuously when singing, but otherwise fairly secretive. Listen for loud song of chatters and clearer trills, as well as harsh scolding calls.
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