Copper Sunbird
Cinnyris cupreus
The breeding male has coppery iridescence across the head, though it looks black in poor light. Non-breeding male and female are dull and nondescript, with plain, unstreaked underparts. Found in a wide variety of open habitats, including woodland, scrub, gardens, and cultivation. Absent from thick forest. Gives a variety of vocalizations, including quick scolding calls, an accelerating series of “tip” notes, and a typical sunbird scrambled song. Identifying non-breeding male and female can be tricky, but they are smaller and plainer than most similar sunbirds.
Identification
The adult male copper sunbird is about 12.5 cm (5 in) long. The subspecies C. c. cupreus inhabits the western part of its range and weighs about 7.5 to 11 g (0.26 to 0.39 oz). The male C. c. chalceus, from the eastern half, weighs 7.5 to 11 g (0.26 to 0.39 oz) while the female of both subspecies weighs 7.3 to 10.2 g (0.26 to 0.36 oz).
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Cinnyris cupreus
- Authority
- (Shaw, 1812)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Nectariniidae
- Genus
- Cinnyris
Range and habitat
It is found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. It is a non-migratory bird and is resident across its range. Its habitat is mainly savannas, but also includes degraded forest, woodland, marshes, mangroves, coastal thickets and agricultural land.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The copper sunbird feeds on nectar that it sipps from selected flowers. Some of its favourite trees and plants include Calliandra spp., Leonotis leonurus, Syzygium spp., and Senegalia polyacantha. It also takes fruits, spiders and insects, some of which are caught on the wing.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Kaempfer's Tody-Tyrant
Hemitriccus kaempferi
Small, olive-colored flycatcher with distinct yellow wing edges. Has a dark olive back and yellow underparts. Note the buffy lores. Inhabits lowland humid forests and secondary forest with dense understory, often near streams. Song is a repetition of high-pitched “kuít-kuít” notes.
Yellow-winged Blackbird
Agelasticus thilius
Rarely seen far from water, this handsome blackbird is fairly common, but is sometimes local in wetlands, around lakes, and in nearby fields; usually in small flocks and breeds colonially in reed beds. Feeds mainly on or near the ground, but often perches in reeds. Diagnostic yellow shoulder of male can be concealed at rest, but is obvious in flight. Streaky female rather unremarkable, but often in the company of males: note the bold pale eyebrow and streaked underparts.
Maroon-chested Ground Dove
Paraclaravis mondetoura
Very scarce and rarely seen small dove of foothill and mountain forest and edge, usually with patches of seeding bamboo. Most often seen in fast direct flight; rarely seen perched or feeding in low vegetation or on the ground. Male deep blue-gray with purple bands on the wings and a maroon breast; white outer tail feathers striking when tail is spread. Female with dark bill, and brown overall with dark reddish-brown bands on the wings; rump and tail less rusty than similar female Blue Ground Dove of humid tropical lowlands.
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