| Abyssinian sunbird | |
|---|---|
| |
| Male in central Ethiopia | |
| Conservation status | |
 Least Concern (IUCN 3.1) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Nectariniidae |
| Genus: | Cinnyris |
| Species: | C. habessinicus |
| Binomial name | |
| Cinnyris habessinicus (Hemprich & Ehrenberg, 1828) | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Nectarinia habessinica | |
The Abyssinian sunbird (Cinnyris habessinicus), formerly the shining sunbird, is a species of passerine bird in the sunbird family Nectariniidae. The Arabian sunbird was formerly treated as a subspecies.
Subspecies
Three subspecies are recognised:
- C. h. habessinicus (Hemprich & Ehrenberg, 1828) – northeast Sudan, Eritrea and north, central Ethiopia
- C. h. alter Neumann, 1906 – east Ethiopia and north Somalia
- C. h. turkanae Van Someren, 1920 – southeast Sudan, south Ethiopia, south Somalia, north Kenya and northeast Uganda
Two additional former subspecies, C. h. hellmaryi and C. h. kinneari, have now been split as a separate species, the Arabian sunbird C. hellmaryi.
Description
The Abyssinian sunbird is highly dimorphic and has three distinct plumages, juvenile, 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 females are brownish-buff, paler below. These small sunbirds mainly feed on nectar and small insects.
Distribution and habitat
It is found in Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda.
This species prefers rocky or sandy areas and dry river beds with Acacia and Ziziphus trees.
References
- BirdLife International (2016). "Cinnyris habessinicus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T103803926A94555807. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T103803926A94555807.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (August 2024). "Dippers, leafbirds, flowerpeckers, sunbirds". IOC World Bird List Version 14.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
- ^ 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.
External links
| Taxon identifiers | |
|---|---|
| Cinnyris habessinicus |
|
| Nectarinia habessinica | |
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