Marico Sunbird

Cinnyris mariquensis

Male is iridescent green above with a dark belly and maroon and bluish bands across the breast. Female is nondescript, with blurry streaks across the pale yellow underparts. Found in woodland, scrub, and savanna, including semi-desert thornscrub. Most distinctive vocalization is an energetic series of “tyip” notes. Also gives a high-pitched, jumbled song. Very similar to several other sunbird species but distinguished by slightly larger size and longer bill with a thicker base.

分类信息

学名
Cinnyris mariquensis
命名信息
Smith, A, 1836
Passeriformes
Nectariniidae
Cinnyris

分布与栖息地

It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.<p>The African population of Marico sunbird was spotted on various occasions in between July and August 2016 in locations southwest of where its previously believed range ended. These records raised a red flag of a southward range expansion and therefore a more detailed investigation of the range expansion of the species was needed. The range of these birds is expanding into the Northern Cape and Free state provinces in central South Africa.<p>There are several theories as to why these birds are expanding or changing their range. It is believed that drought or floods can cause the species to search for a more favourable environment in the nearby vicinity. Since 2014, a severe drought has ravaged large parts of western and central South Africa, serving as a potential explanation for the southward movements of the Marico sunbird.<p>The current range change map was made by comparing the results of the first and second South African Birds Atlas Project's that were undertaken about 20 years apart.<p>It is interesting that they are expanding into the southwest of Africa with drier spaces and less tress as a woodlands species. This signifies that it is also possible that physiology and behaviour are playing a role in the southwestern migration of the species.

迁徙
Resident species

保护状况

种群趋势
stable

照片

分布

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