Montane Double-collared Sunbird
Cinnyris ludovicensis
A medium-sized typical ‘double-collared’ sunbird with a long bill. Male has a very broad red breast band, bluish-violet rump patch, and a dusky belly. Female is dull gray-brown. Pairs and singles are common but extremely local in highland forests and thicket edges, restricted to distinct regions that perhaps represent three separate species: the Angolan scarp; Nyika Plateau of Malawi; and the Eastern Arc, Tanzania. Larger, with a broader red breast band on the male, than either Eastern Miombo or Forest Double-collared sunbirds; the latter also has an olive (not dusky) belly. Has a typical jumbled sunbird song.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Cinnyris ludovicensis
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Nectariniidae
- Genus
- Cinnyris
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Shelley's Eagle-Owl
Ketupa shelleyi
Very large, dark rainforest owl. Note the dark brown upperparts, heavily barred underparts, and dark eyes. Rare and local in lowland rainforest, including forest edge. The call is a single long, descending whistle: “hrroooooouw,” repeated after long pauses. Shelley’s Eagle-Owl is much larger than other rainforest eagle-owls. Overall coloration most similar to Akun Eagle-Owl, but Shelley’s has dark rather than yellow eyes. Similar in size to Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, but darker and heavily barred below.
Eurasian Eagle-Owl
Bubo bubo
Very large and powerful owl with obvious ear tufts, deep orange eyes, and finely streaked pale buffy underparts. Active mainly at night, but can be seen perched up on prominent lookouts at dusk, searching for prey. Can be found roosting during the day in shady canopy or caves. Pairs often duet, with the male giving a deep, resounding hoot and the female giving a hoarser, higher-pitched one. Inhabits a wide range of habitats, from forests to rocky canyons, but generally abundant nowhere.
Rufescent Screech-Owl
Megascops ingens
Large screech-owl of mid-elevation cloud forest. General coloration is either brown or rufous with a paler belly. Note dark eyes and rather plain facial pattern. Ear tufts are usually indistinct. Separated from other screech-owls in range by dark (not yellow) iris and voice. Typical song is a fairly rapid series of soft whistles. Also gives a series that starts slower and then speeds up suddenly.
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