Abyssinian sunbird
| Abyssinian sunbird | |
|---|---|
| |
| Male in central Ethiopia | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Nectariniidae |
| Genus: | Cinnyris |
| Species: | C. habessinicus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Cinnyris habessinicus | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Nectarinia habessinica | |
The Abyssinian sunbird (Cinnyris habessinicus), formerly the shining sunbird, is a species of passerine bird in the sunbird family Nectariniidae. The Arabian sunbird was formerly treated as a subspecies.
Subspecies
[edit]Three subspecies are recognised:[2]
- C. h. habessinicus (Hemprich & Ehrenberg, 1828) – northeast Sudan, Eritrea and north, central Ethiopia
- C. h. alter Neumann, 1906 – east Ethiopia and north Somalia
- C. h. turkanae Van Someren, 1920 – southeast Sudan, south Ethiopia, south Somalia, north Kenya and northeast Uganda
Two additional former subspecies, C. h. hellmaryi and C. h. kinneari, have now been split as a separate species, the Arabian sunbird C. hellmaryi.[2]
Description
[edit]The Abyssinian sunbird is highly dimorphic and has three distinct plumages, juvenile, immature and adult. Adult males in breeding plumage have brilliant metallic green upperparts and throat, a violet or blue crown, a bright red band across the breast with a narrow line of metallic blue, and blue-black wings and tail. The females are brownish-buff, paler below. These small sunbirds mainly feed on nectar and small insects.[3]
Distribution and habitat
[edit]It is found in Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda.[3]
This species prefers rocky or sandy areas and dry river beds with Acacia and Ziziphus trees.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Cinnyris habessinicus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T103803926A94555807. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T103803926A94555807.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ a b Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (August 2024). "Dippers, leafbirds, flowerpeckers, sunbirds". IOC World Bird List Version 14.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
- ^ a b c Williams, J. G. (1955). "A systematic revision and natural history of the shining sunbird of Africa". Condor. 57 (5): 249–262. doi:10.2307/1364731. JSTOR 1364731.
External links
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