Moreau's Sunbird
Cinnyris moreaui
A medium-sized sunbird. Males are very colorful, with a shining coppery-green iridescence on the head and back and a purple-and-red breast band with yellow sides. Females are drab yellowish-brown. Found locally in montane forest, especially clearings and forest edge. Similar to Forest Double-collared Sunbird, but there is only minor overlap in range, and males are separated by their broad yellow sides. The calls include a squeaky “tseet” that often precedes a very quick jumble of high-pitched notes.
Identification
Moreau's sunbird is a small species some 12 cm (5 in) long. The adult male has upper parts an iridescent bronzey-green, with a green rump and dark brown tail. The green throat is separated from the red to orange breast by a narrow blue band. The belly and sides of the breast are yellow. The eye is dark brown or black and the curved beak and legs are black. The adult female has upper parts olive green, with the feathers of crown and mantle fringed with metallic greenish-grey. The tail is dark brown with paler outer feathers. The chin and throat are greyish-yellow and the breast and belly olive-yellow. The eye is dark brown and the beak and legs are black. The juvenile male is similar to the adult male but the upper parts lack the iridescence and are a dusky greyish-olive, while the underparts are dusky yellowish-olive. The juvenile female resembles the adult female but is generally duller and lacks the metallic fringes to the feathers of crown and mantle. The underparts are a dull yellowish-green.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Cinnyris moreaui
- Authority
- Sclater, WL, 1933
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Nectariniidae
- Genus
- Cinnyris
Range and habitat
Moreau's sunbird is endemic to the mountainous parts of Tanzania where its habitat is montane forest. Its altitudinal range is between 1,350 and 1,800 m (4,429 and 5,906 ft) in most parts of its range, but it occurs up to 2,500 m (8,202 ft) in the Udzungwa Mountains in the Eastern Arc Mountains.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Moreau's sunbird is generally found in bushes alongside roads and in the forest canopy. It is sometimes present as part of mixed flocks of small birds. It feeds on nectar and probably insects. The nest is a small domed structure with a top opening, built by the female.
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
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Uniform Swiftlet
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A large, long-winged, entirely gray-brown swiftlet with a very shallow tail fork and a gliding flight action. Found over a variety of habitats, often in flocks with other swiftlets. Almost always seen in flight. Widespread, so overlaps with multiple similar swiftlets. Uniform Swiftlet is larger and longer-winged than Glossy, Cave, and Bornean Swiftlets, with a dark belly and a non-fluttering flight action. Uniform Swiftlet lacks the clear pale rump of White-rumped, Seram, Halmahera, Sulawesi, and some Glossy Swiftlets, and is larger than those species. Uniform lacks gloss on upperparts, unlike Mayr’s, Mountain, and Glossy Swiftlets. It is smaller than Bare-legged, Mayr’s, Papuan, Volcano, and Giant Swiftlets. It is most similar to Edible-nest and Black-nest Swiftlets, but Uniform is darker beneath, and lacks the slightly paler rump of Edible-nest; it is best distinguished from those species by its mossy nest.
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