Nectarinia fusca
- Cinnyris fuscus
Identification
A small nondescript sunbird. Breeding male is mostly black with a white belly and orange pectoral tufts that are often concealed. Nonbreeding male is brownish above with a distinct black patch extending from the throat to the breast. The rest of the underparts are white. Females are plain grayish-brown with pale underparts.
Distribution
Western Africa: occurs only in Angola
Southern Africa: Namibia, Botswana and South Africa
Taxonomy
This is one of the many Sunbirds that have recently been moved to the genus Cinnyris from the genus Nectarina.
Subspecies
There are 2 subspecies[1]
- C. f. fuscus:
- Namibia and Botswana to South Africa
- C. f. inclusus:
- Coastal south-western Angola
Habitat
Acacia woodland, urban gardens, dry thornveld, woody, rocky areas, arid savanna and karoo scrub.
Behaviour
Feeds on insects and nectar. Somewhat nomadic in search of flowering plants. Voice is a rapid series of "tchch" notes.
References
- Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
- Avibase
- Wikipedia
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Dusky Sunbird. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 9 October 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Dusky_Sunbird
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
