Tiny Sunbird
Cinnyris minullus
The smallest member of a group of frustratingly similar double-collared sunbirds that co-occur in African forests. Often encountered near forest edges and in forest clearings, and sometimes even in villages and gardens. Males have an olive belly, a bright red chest band with a blue and purple upper border, yellow underwing tufts, and an iridescent green throat, head, and upperparts. Females are generally olive all over with a slight eye-line and darker olive streaking on the undersides. Appears short-billed, and from a distance almost straight-billed. Extremely similar to Olive-bellied Sunbird and Northern Double-collared Sunbird, with which this species co-occurs. Look for Tiny Sunbird’s short, nearly straight bill and the small red breast band on the males. Gives sharp “tsew!” calls and, in its song, multiple notes at different pitches in rapid succession.
Identification
The tiny sunbird is the smallest species in the genus. The adult male has a metallic green head, back and throat, dark brown wings, a metallic blue rump and a black tail with a purplish-blue sheen. It has a narrow blue breast band above a wider scarlet breast band, lemon-yellow pectoral tufts and a dark olive belly. The adult female has an olive-brown head and upper parts, dark brown wings and dark brown tail. There is an olive-yellow supercilium over the eye, the throat is grey and the underparts are olive washed with yellow. The eyes in both sexes are dark brown and the beak and legs are black. The juvenile resembles the female.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Cinnyris minullus
- Authority
- Reichenow, 1899
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Nectariniidae
- Genus
- Cinnyris
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The tiny sunbird is found in primary and secondary forests, forest edges, clearings and among scattered trees in savanna country and around villages. It forages in the canopy singly or in pairs, and sometimes joins small, mixed species flocks. It feeds on nectar, insects and spiders.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Gray-headed Swamphen
Porphyrio poliocephalus
A very large bluish-purple waterbird with a red bill and forehead shield, as well as red legs and feet with long toes. The tail is flicked up often, revealing fluffy white “underpants.” Juveniles are duller than adults and lack the red bill and shield. An inhabitant of marshy, vegetated freshwater bodies such as swamps, rivers, and lakes; usually in small groups. Feeds, often clumsily, at muddy water edges, in reeds, and on floating vegetation. Makes short nasal grunts and croaking sounds. Formerly part of the species known as Purple Swamphen.
Philippine Green-Pigeon
Treron axillaris
A medium-sized pigeon of lowland and foothill forest canopy, with green underparts, head, and rump, a gray crown, yellow wingbars and edges to the flight feathers, a whitish belly, and white under the base of the tail. Note the whitish bill with a reddish base and the blue eyes. Male has a maroon shoulder and back, where the female is green. Similar to Thick-billed Green-Pigeon, but Philippine has a thinner bill and lacks the green skin around the eye. Female resembles female Pink-necked Green-Pigeon, but that species has yellow marks only on the edge of the wing. Voice is typical of green-pigeons, including a rising-and-falling out-of-tune whistled song.
White-bibbed Babbler
Stachyris thoracica
Handsome and well-named large babbler with a snow-white “bib.” Also note blue facial skin and bright chestnut back. Crown is brownish on birds from western Java, and grayish on those from central and eastern Java. Despite large size and bright colors, can be quite skulky and difficult to see well. Hops and clambers about in dense bushes and vines in foothill forests, typically in mid-sized groups, giving dry churring rattles. Also gives a short, fluty-sounding whistle.
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