(Clearer image added. Attempt to disguise copied text. Distribution expanded. Reference updated) |
(id, ref) |
||
| Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
26–30 cm | 26–30 cm | ||
| − | * | + | *Black plumage which in perfect light looks purple glossed |
*White spotted primaries | *White spotted primaries | ||
| − | *Black decurved bill | + | *Black strongly decurved bill |
*Black feet | *Black feet | ||
| + | |||
| + | ====Similar species==== | ||
| + | [[:Category:Phoeniculus|Wood Hoopoes]] generally have less decurved bill; notice that in some of the red billed species, the young have black bill and may be confused with the black-billed Common Scimitarbill. | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
Southern half of [[Africa]]<br /> | Southern half of [[Africa]]<br /> | ||
| Line 27: | Line 30: | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
#{{Ref-Clements6thDec10}}#Answers.com | #{{Ref-Clements6thDec10}}#Answers.com | ||
| + | # Sinclair et al. 2002. Birds of Southern Africa. Princeton Field Guides, Princeton, New Jersey, USA. ISBN 0-691-09682-1 | ||
{{ref}} | {{ref}} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
{{GSearch|Rhinopomastus+cyanomelas}} | {{GSearch|Rhinopomastus+cyanomelas}} | ||
[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Rhinopomastus]] | [[Category:Birds]][[Category:Rhinopomastus]] | ||
Revision as of 02:44, 18 September 2011
- Rhinopomastus cyanomelas
Identification
26–30 cm
- Black plumage which in perfect light looks purple glossed
- White spotted primaries
- Black strongly decurved bill
- Black feet
Similar species
Wood Hoopoes generally have less decurved bill; notice that in some of the red billed species, the young have black bill and may be confused with the black-billed Common Scimitarbill.
Distribution
Southern half of Africa
Western Africa: Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola
Eastern Africa: Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Zambia, Mozambique and Malawi
Southern Africa: Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal and Swaziland
Taxonomy
Rhinopomastus cyanomelas is polytypic; there are two subspecies:[1]
- R. c. cyanomelas
- Angola and Namibia to northern South Africa
- R. c. schalowi
- Somalia to Zambia and KwaZulu-Natal (eastern South Africa)
Habitat
Savanna, evergreen woodland, thorn-scrub to 2,000m.
Behaviour
Diet
The diet includes insect larvae, insects, spiders, buds, nectar and fruit.
Breeding
They nest in a tree hole. The 2-4 white eggs are incubated for 17–18 days. The young fledge about 24 days later.
References
- Clements, JF. 2010. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2010. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/Clements%206.5.xls/view
- Answers.com
- Sinclair et al. 2002. Birds of Southern Africa. Princeton Field Guides, Princeton, New Jersey, USA. ISBN 0-691-09682-1
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Common Scimitarbill. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 23 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Common_Scimitarbill
