From Opus

Photo by Alan Manson
Location: Mkhuze Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Cinnyris neergaardi

Nectarinia neergaardi

[edit] Identification

Lentgh 11 cm, mass 6 g. Breeding male: (It is not known if the male has an eclipse plumage) Upperparts iridescent green, except for the upper tail coverts (iridescent blue) and the tail, flight feathers and greater wing coverts (blackish). The neck, throat and upper breast are also iridescent green, and it has yellow pectoral tufts. A narrow, iridescent violet-blue breast band separates the green upper breast from a broad crimson-red breast band. The belly is blackish and the bill is short and slightly decurved. Female: The upperparts are grey-brown, and the eyebrow is whitish. The tail, flight feathers and greater wing coverts are darker. The underparts are plain grey-buff, with the central belly being yellowish.

[edit] Similar Species

The Purple-banded Sunbird is similar, but the male has a purple breast-band and does not have yellow pectoral tufts. The female Purple-banded Sunbird has a streaked breast.

[edit] Distribution

There are two populations of this species; one in southern Mozambique north of the Limpopo, and the other in the extreme south of Mozambique and adjacent north-eastern KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa).

[edit] Taxonomy

This is one of the many Sunbirds that have recently been moved to the genus Cinnyris from the genus Nectarinia.

The species is monotypic.

[edit] Habitat

Tall woodland (northern population) and sand forest (southern population). The species is classified as Near Threatened in the 2007 IUCN Red List due to habitat destruction.

[edit] Behaviour

Usually seen singly or in pairs. Feeds on nectar, the juices of fruits, insects and spiders. Often chased from rich nectar sources by more dominant Sunbird species.

Breeding biology is poorly known. Breeds September to January; nests are an oval ball with a side entrance, often made using old-mans-beard lichen (Usnea species). Two eggs are laid; chicks are fed insects, spiders and arboreal snails.

[edit] References

Hockey PAR, Dean WRJ & Ryan PG (eds) 2005. Robert's Birds of Southern Africa, 7th edition. Cape Town: John Voelcker Bird Book Fund. ISBN 0620340533

BirdLife International (2007) Species factsheet: Nectarinia neergardi. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 1/11/2007.

[edit] External Links