Shining sunbird

Shining sunbird
Cinnyris habessinicus. Illustration from «Kupfertafeln zur Naturgeschichte der Vögel» by Heinrich von Kittlitz (1799–1874)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Nectariniidae
Genus: Cinnyris
Species: C. habessinicus
Binomial name
Cinnyris habessinicus
Synonyms

Nectarinia habessinica

The shining sunbird (Cinnyris habessinicus) is a species of bird in the Nectariniidae family.

Subspecies

  • Cinnyris habessinicus habessinicus (Hemprich and Ehrenberg)
  • Cinnyris habessinicus turkanae van Someren
  • Cinnyris habessinicus alter Neumann
  • Cinnyris habessinicus hellmayri Neumann
  • Cinnyris habessinicus kinneari Bates [2]

Description

Cinnyris habessinicus are highly dimorphic and have three distinct plumages, juvenal, 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 female are mainly gray or brown. These small sunbirds mainly feed on nectar.[2]

Distribution

It is found in Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda, and Yemen.[2]

Habitat

This species prefers rocky or sandy areas and dry river beds with Acacia and Ziziphus trees.[2]

References

  1. ↑ BirdLife International (2012). "Nectarinia habessinica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.1. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 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.


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