Black-bellied Sunbird
Cinnyris nectarinioides
A slim, long-billed sunbird in which breeding males and females are very different. Breeding males are mostly dark iridescent green with a red band across the underparts. The red band is bordered by narrow yellow stripes in the southern part of the range. Females are plain, with gray-brown upperparts and pale underparts with dark streaking. Found in dry thorn savanna. Similar to Beautiful Sunbird, but breeding males are separated by the less extensive or absent yellow in their belly band, and females by being more streaked below. The common calls are quiet chips and “tip” notes, and the song is a high-pitched jumble typical of sunbirds.
Identification
The black-bellied sunbird can be characterized by a curved bill used for nectar feeding and a small frame. These birds often weigh just 4–6 grams and as grown males tend to be around 13 cm large, while females remain around 10 cm. This sunbird is sexually dimorphic with differences in plumage between males and females and slight differences between breeding and non-breeding males.<p>A breeding male has a golden-green head, upperparts, chin, and throat. The bases of its feathers and upper tail are black with the rest of the upper tail being a dark metallic blue. Feathers are occasionally purple or a lustrous greenish-blue at the edges, with faint blue bands stretching across the feathers. They have an orange breastband, that is redder in the erlangeri species, tufts of yellow on the pecs and slight streaks of white on their flanks. The male's bill and legs are both black. The non-breeding males are similar, differentiated only by upperparts being a more dull brown and some white-yellow underparts, also known as eclipse plumage.<p>Female plumage is yellow-olive with streaks of dark brown on their crown. One distinguishing feature is the streak of yellow above their eye. Their tail is similar to the male, only differentiated by white tips and edges. The middle of a female belly and its undertail are pale yellow and its beak and legs are black like their male counterparts.
Taxonomy
The black-bellied sunbird is part of the species Cinnyris nectarinioides and has two recognized subspecies. The smaller, the Cinnyris nectarinioides erlangeri inhabits Northeast Kenya and can also be found in Southeast Ethiopia and South Somalia. The larger subspecies, the Cinnyris nectarinioides nectarinioides, inhabits Southeast Kenya and Northeast Tanzania. Both subspecies are similar in most aspects besides size. Their songs are also very similar.
- Scientific name
- Cinnyris nectarinioides
- Authority
- Richmond, 1897
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Nectariniidae
- Genus
- Cinnyris
Range and habitat
The black-bellied sunbird is predominantly located in Kenya. Its main habitats are savannah, terrestrial areas, and inland wetlands and freshwater. It inhabits 4 main countries total: Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Somalia. Though the population size has not been quantified, the species is marked as locally common in Kenya. It is described as uncommon in Somalia and rare in Ethiopia. The species is located in some protected areas though the species itself is not protected. The sunbird prefers areas of arid savanna and river vegetation. There are no fluctuations in the black-bellied sunbird area of occupancy. They inhabit the same location year-round. Unlike other birds, these do not migrate in the winter. They are mostly concentrated in the eastern edge of Africa, only coming as far west as Northeastern Kenya.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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