Ursula's Sunbird
Cinnyris ursulae
A small, inconspicuous, and easily overlooked sunbird of mountain forests. At a distance, appears fairly uniform in color, but in good light the greenish back contrasts with the gray face, olive throat, pale belly, and reddish tufts on the sides of the body that are sometimes concealed by the wings. Bill is not overly long, but is distinctly curved. Within its range, most likely to be confused with Little Green Sunbird, but Ursula’s Sunbird has a plain face and more decurved, all black bill. Song varies, but always consists of sharp, high-pitched notes that are sometimes delivered as a jumble and sometimes as a single note followed by a descending pattern of quick, high pitched notes: “tsee-TSEE-TSI-tsi-tsi.”
Identification
Ursula's sunbird (Cinnyris ursulae) is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae restricted to the continental and near-shore portions of the Cameroon line.
Taxonomy
Monotypic. Formerly considered a member of the genus Nectarinia along with other Cinnyris sunbirds.
- Scientific name
- Cinnyris ursulae
- Authority
- (Alexander, 1903)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Nectariniidae
- Genus
- Cinnyris
Range and habitat
Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. Its distribution is almost wholly restricted to the Cameroonian Highlands forests and Mount Cameroon and Bioko montane forests ecoregions, occurring in Nigeria, Cameroon, and Equatorial Guinea (specifically, on Bioko). It is threatened by habitat loss.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Pale-fronted Nigrita
Nigrita luteifrons
An easily overlooked gray finch of forest edges and farms, occurring in small groups or with mixed-species flocks, often with other species of nigrita. Males are largely gray above and black below, with dark gray wings and a very pale whitish forehead. Females are largely gray all over with darker wings, a black face mask, and a pale whitish forehead. Both males and females have pale pinkish legs. Occurs with all three other nigrita species, and males can be confused with Gray-headed Nigrita, but note Pale-fronted Nigrita’s lack of spots on the wings and pale forehead. Calls include soft “tew” notes and four descending whistles, “twe-tee-tee-tee.” The song is a longer series of descending whistles.
Gray-and-gold Tanager
Poecilostreptus palmeri
Chunky medium-sized tanager found in the canopy of lowland and foothill forest from extreme eastern Panama to northwest Ecuador. Unmistakable in range: pale silvery-gray overall with a black face, a black shoulder, and messy black and gold spotting on the breast and nape. Pairs or small groups are typically seen in the canopy, sometimes perched quite conspicuously at the edge of forest. Often follows mixed-species flocks.
Tropical Boubou
Laniarius major
Robust black-and-white bushshrike. There is a pale cinnamon wash on the belly and a white stripe across the top of the wing. Found in dense microhabitats within forest, woodland, thickets, and gardens. Not particularly shy, but spends most of its time in dense cover, usually in pairs. Highly vocal bird with a variety of calls. The song is a synchronized duet of hollow hoots from the male and ratcheting calls from the female. Has a very similar color pattern to other boubous, but its underparts are paler than those of Southern Boubou and darker than those of Swamp Boubou. Has a white stripe on the wing, unlike Zanzibar Boubou.
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