- Cyanomitra alinae
Nectarinia alinae
Identification
12–14 cm (4¾-5½ in)
- Metallic bluish-green head
- Olive-green upperparts
Distribution
Africa:
Western Africa: Democratic Republic of Congo
Eastern Africa: Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi
Taxonomy
This is one of the seven Sunbirds that have recently been moved into the genus Cyanomitra from the genus Nectarinia.
Subspecies
There are 5 subspecies[1]:
- C. a. marungensis:
- Eastern Zaire (Marungu Mountains)
- C. a. alinae:
- C. a. tanganjicae:
- C. a. derooi:
- Highlands north-eastern Zaire (west of Lake Albert and Lake Edward)
- C. a. kaboboensis:
- Eastern Zaire (montane forests of Mount Kabobo)
Habitat
They are found in primary, secondary and riverine montane forests between 1400 and 3300 m.
Behaviour
Diet
Their main diet consists of insects, small spiders and nectar.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved Sept 2018)
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Blue-headed Sunbird. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 4 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Blue-headed_Sunbird
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Avibase
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Blue-headed Sunbird. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 4 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Blue-headed_Sunbird
