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Marico Sunbird (Cinnyris mariquensis)

Marico Sunbird

Cinnyris mariquensis

Least Concern

Overview

The Marico sunbird, Cinnyris mariquensis, is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae native to the eastern and southern Afrotropics. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, with a large distribution that makes it unlikely to go extinct.

Habitat

Primarily a woodland species, the Marico sunbird also survives in dry, arid savanna environments and has been observed expanding into drier areas with fewer trees. Its range includes Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Diet

While specific food items are not detailed, the bird is noted to have ample foraging opportunities while flying through natural landscapes such as rivers and valleys, which serve as natural flight paths.

Did you know?

The species has been expanding into the southwest of Africa, moving into drier spaces with fewer trees than is typical for woodland species, possibly due to drought forcing them to search for more favourable environments.

Sources