Souimanga Sunbird

Overview

The souimanga sunbird, Cinnyris sovimanga, is a small passerine bird in the sunbird family. It is native to the western Indian Ocean, specifically found on Madagascar, the Aldabra Group, and the Glorioso Islands.

Identification

• 10 cm long with a long, thin, and curved black bill.
• Males of the nominate subspecies feature a metallic green head, back, and throat, a blackish breast with a red band, and a yellow belly.
• Females have grey-brown upperparts, a dull yellow belly, and a grey throat and breast with darker markings.
• Produces a chirruping flight call, a loud hoarse alarm call, and the male sings a fast, scratchy song.

Habitat

Found in a variety of habitats ranging from mountain forests to mangroves, scrubland, parks, and human-modified ecosystems. The species is distributed across Madagascar (excluding the south), the Aldabra Group, and the Glorioso Islands.

Diet

Uses its curved bill to probe flowers for nectar while also feeding on insects and spiders.

Did you know?

Males display yellow tufts at the sides of their breast that become visible when they lift their wings during courtship. The female is responsible for building the dome-shaped nest, incubating the eggs, and plays a greater role than the male in feeding the chicks.