(Imp Sizes. Pictures of nominate male and juvenile. Distribution & Taxonomy. References updated) |
(Picture of juvenile male.) |
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| − | [[Image:DSC 1472.jpg|thumb| | + | [[Image:DSC 1472.jpg|thumb|375px|right|Subspecies ''senegalensis''<br />Photo by {{user|d.flack|d.flack}}<br />[[Gambia]], November 2016 ]] |
;[[:Category:Chalcomitra|Chalcomitra]] senegalensis | ;[[:Category:Chalcomitra|Chalcomitra]] senegalensis | ||
''Nectarinia senegalensis'' | ''Nectarinia senegalensis'' | ||
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==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
| − | + | ||
Broadleaved open woodland, moist thornveld, coastal bush, parks and gardens. | Broadleaved open woodland, moist thornveld, coastal bush, parks and gardens. | ||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
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====Breeding==== | ====Breeding==== | ||
The male defends the the breeding territory. The nest is pear-shaped with a hood over the entrance hole, and suspended from a branch. It is built by the female using dry grass, stems, leaves and/or bark bound by spider web. Usually two eggs are laid and incubated by the female. Chicks and fledglings are fed by both parents for up to eight weeks. [[Dictionary_P-S#P|Parasitised]] by [[Klaas's Cuckoo]] and, less often, [[African Emerald Cuckoo]] and [[Dideric Cuckoo]] | The male defends the the breeding territory. The nest is pear-shaped with a hood over the entrance hole, and suspended from a branch. It is built by the female using dry grass, stems, leaves and/or bark bound by spider web. Usually two eggs are laid and incubated by the female. Chicks and fledglings are fed by both parents for up to eight weeks. [[Dictionary_P-S#P|Parasitised]] by [[Klaas's Cuckoo]] and, less often, [[African Emerald Cuckoo]] and [[Dideric Cuckoo]] | ||
| + | ==Gallery== | ||
| + | Click on photo for larger image | ||
| + | <gallery> | ||
| + | Image:2007 09 29 15 39 Juv Sc Sunbird.jpg|Juvenile, female, Subspecies ''gutturalis''<br />Photo by {{user|Alan+Manson|Alan Manson}}<br />Ngwenya, adjascent to [[Kruger National Park]], [[South Africa]], September 2007 | ||
| + | Image:STH 6389.JPG|Juvenile, male, Subspecies ''gutturalis''<br />Photo by {{user|volker+sthamer|volker sthamer}}<br >Hawassa, [[Ethiopia]], February 2017 | ||
| + | </gallery> | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
#{{Ref-Clements6thAug16}}#Avibase | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug16}}#Avibase | ||
Revision as of 19:23, 30 March 2017
- Chalcomitra senegalensis
Nectarinia senegalensis
Identification
Length 13-15 cm (5-6 in), mass 12-15 g, males larger than females
Male: Black with iridescent emerald-green crown and chin and scarlet throat and upper breast. Bill, legs and feet black, eyes dark brown.
Female: Upper parts and face dark brown, eyebrow whitish. Chin and throat dark brown, feathers edged light brown. Breast and belly pale yellow, streaked dark brown.
Distribution
Photo by Kiki
Kruger National Park, South Africa, November 2005
Sub-Saharan Africa:
Western Africa: Mauritania, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Mali, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Niger, Niger, Chad, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola
Eastern Africa: Sudan, South Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Mozambique, Malawi
Southern Africa: Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal and Swaziland
Taxonomy
This is one of the seven Sunbirds that have recently been moved into the genus Chalcomitra from the genus Nectarinia.
Subspecies
Chalcomitra senegalensis has 4 subspecies, variation being mostly in the colour of the underparts[1]:
- C. s. senegalensis:
- C. s. acik:
- Cameroon to north-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, south-western Sudan, north-wetern Uganda
- C. s. proteus:
- C. s. lamperti:
- C. s. gutturalis:
- South East Kenya to Angola, western Zambia, western Democratic Republic of the Congo, northern Botswana, eastern South Africa
Habitat
Broadleaved open woodland, moist thornveld, coastal bush, parks and gardens.
Behaviour
Diet
Often in groups at nectar sources where males frequently chase conspecifics and other Sunbirds. Also hunts insects and spiders, but usually alone. May hover to feed, but usually perches.
Breeding
The male defends the the breeding territory. The nest is pear-shaped with a hood over the entrance hole, and suspended from a branch. It is built by the female using dry grass, stems, leaves and/or bark bound by spider web. Usually two eggs are laid and incubated by the female. Chicks and fledglings are fed by both parents for up to eight weeks. Parasitised by Klaas's Cuckoo and, less often, African Emerald Cuckoo and Dideric Cuckoo
Gallery
Click on photo for larger image
Juvenile, female, Subspecies gutturalis
Photo by Alan Manson
Ngwenya, adjascent to Kruger National Park, South Africa, September 2007
Juvenile, male, Subspecies gutturalis
Photo by volker sthamer
Hawassa, Ethiopia, February 2017
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2016. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2016, with updates to August 2016. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Avibase
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved December 2016)
Hockey, PAR, WRJ Dean, and PG Ryan, eds. 2005. Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa. 7th ed. Cape Town: John Voelcker Bird Book Fund. ISBN 978-0620340533
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Scarlet-chested Sunbird. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 27 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Scarlet-chested_Sunbird
