Sunbirds near Bamenda/ Cameroon in April 2017 (1 Viewer)

These images of sunbirds were shot south of Bamenda / Cameroon. I think, they said at that time, there are Orange-tufted Sunbird. But I am struggling not to see Splendid Sunbird. I do not see a size comparison. „Field Guide to the Birds of Western Africa“ (Helm Field Guides) von Nik Borrow und Ron Demey does not show any yellow for the females of Orange-tufted Sunbird – but the text does so. Please help for ID.
Cheers
Johannes

The second picture does look like an immature Splendid Sunbird to me - overall coloration and definitely a black throat.

The first could certainly be a female.

I'm not sure on the third. Belly looks a little dark for what I see in the Princeton Field Guide (only one I have for the region) for Splendid Sunbird. But the only one I see that matches that coloration is the Northern Double-Collared Sunbird - but it really doesn't match that at all.

What kind of location is this? My guide book (Sinclair & Ryan) says Orange-tufted is ""restricted to savannas around the Congo basin".

The female is tricky on this view but Splendid is a strong possibility with that dark lore.

I agree with Jim that the second bird looks good for immature Splendid - green-blue shoulder patch, turquoise rump, short tail.

The third bird is too long-tailed for Splendid IMO and doesn't look right for Northern Double-collared (no red on the lower breast, rump greenish, not violet). Orange-tufted is a possibility but it would depend on the location.

Hi,
Thanks a lot for the comments. Very helpful. The location is in the hills of the Bamenda Highlands not far from the crossing to lake Awing. I think the next locations was Santa. My „Field Guide to the Birds of Western Africa“ (Helm Field Guides) von Nik Borrow und Ron Demey says that it occurs around edges of montane forest, in forest-savanna mosaic, shrubby hillsides. The Bamenda Highlands are listed as one of the locations in Cameroon by Field Guide to the Birds of Western Africa“.

Sorry,
some more remarks on the sunbird. In my „Field Guide to the Birds of Kenia“ (Helm Field Guides) by Dale A. Zimmerman et. al. they show a dirty yellow female with a wash of black on the throat (Plate 107) – what the „Field Guide to the Birds of Western Africa“ (Helm Field Guides) by Nik Borrow and Ron Demey does not show. Really tricky.