Order Passeriformes Higher classification Cinnyris | Phylum Chordata Family Nectariniidae Scientific name Cinnyris humbloti Rank Species | |
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Similar Mayotte sunbird, Ursula's sunbird, Oustalet's sunbird, Loveridge's sunbird, Tsavo sunbird | ||
The Humblot's sunbird (Cinnyris humbloti) is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae. It is endemic to the islands of Grand Comoro and Mohéli in the Comoros.
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Description
The adult male Humblot's sunbird has green upperparts with a dark or gold gloss. In the nominate subspecies the throatand upper breast are glossy green with a red lower breast, in the subspecies from Mohéli the upperparts are duller and the throat and upper breast are glossed with purple. It has yellow pectoral tufts and the lower breast and belly are yellowish green. The adult female is olive green above, greyer on the head with a brighter rump and greyer underparts woth dark spots and streaks, has a white tip to the tail and pectoral tufts. They are 11 cm in length and the male weights 5.5–7g, the female 5.5–8g.
Voice
The song of Humblot's sunbird consists of a series of series of chipping notes, which are mixed up. Alarm and contact calls are a harsh scolding “tssk, tssk”.
Distribution and habitat
Humblot's sunbird is endemic to Grand Comoro and Moheli in the Comoros. It is found in forest, gardens and scrub from sea level to 790m above sea level.
Habits
Humblot's sunbird feeds by gleaning and hover gleaning insects from the leaf tips of the fronds of the coconut palm. It is known to sip nectar from Cocos nucifera, Cussonia spp, Eucalyptus and Impatiens spp. The nest is made of fine grass, covered with moss and lined with milkweed strands and attached to with moss to a branch. Laying is in August and September.
Subspecies
There are two subspecies:
Etymology
The scientific name commemorates the French naturalist Léon Humblot.