Scarlet-chested Sunbird

Overview

The scarlet-chested sunbird (Chalcomitra senegalensis) is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae. It is a small, widespread species native to Sub-Saharan Africa.

Identification

• Adult males possess a characteristic red–scarlet coloured breast and an iridescent green patch on top of the head.
• Females are dark brown in colour and lack a supercilium.
• The bird measures approximately 13–15 cm in length, with males weighing between 7.5–17.2 g and females between 6.8–15.3 g.
• It is similar in appearance to Hunter's sunbird.

Habitat

This species inhabits woodland and gardens, occurring at elevations up to 2,400 m. Its range spans many areas of Sub-Saharan Africa, from South Sudan to South Africa, including countries such as Angola, Kenya, and Zimbabwe.

Did you know?

The bird was first described in 1760 by the French zoologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson based on a specimen collected in Senegal. Although he coined non-conformist Latin names, Carl Linnaeus later updated his Systema Naturae in 1766 to include the species with the binomial Certhia senegalensis.