Amani sunbird

Last updated

Amani sunbird
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Nectariniidae
Genus: Hedydipna
Species:
H. pallidigaster
Binomial name
Hedydipna pallidigaster
Synonyms

Anthreptes pallidigaster
Anthodiaeta pallidigaster

The Amani sunbird (Hedydipna pallidigaster) is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae. It is found in Kenya and Tanzania. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. The male Amani sunbird has a white and dark-green feathered body while the female Amani sunbird has a yellow and grey plumage. Breeding season takes place from May to June and from September to December. The regular diet of the Amani sunbird consists of spiders, caterpillars and other flying insects. [2] It is threatened by habitat loss.

Contents

Description

The Amani sunbird is a small vibrant bird with distinctive features. Adult males have a dark green head and throat that transitions into a light green chest and a yellow stomach. The bill is slightly curved at the end, the wings are dark, and the tail is slightly long. Females are not as colorful as males and they are an olive-brown color with a darker gray head and light yellow parts on their bodies. The color of the female birds helps to blend into their surroundings. It measures ten to twelve centimeters in length with a wingspan of fifteen to twenty centimeters. This species tends to travel alone or in pairs but can be seen with other bird flocks such as the Collared sunbird. [3]

Habitat and Diet

The Amani sunbird’s natural habitat is limited to specific regions within Tanzania and coastal Kenya. They are found in open woodlands, low density forests, and the Usambara and Udzungwa mountains. The Tanzania forests grow from 200-1,550 meters in elevation. This species prefers dense and tropical forest and thrive off of areas with a variety of plants. Geography plays a role in the bird’s diet and behavior. [4] They typically eat small invertebrates, nectar from trees and bushes, spiders, caterpillars, and other insects.

Vocalization

The bird’s call is softer and does not make as much noise as other birds. Their call has only been able to be recorded within a close range. Each bird of this species had similar frequencies regardless of which area it was in. [5]

Migration and Breeding

In 2006 surveys were run, these surveys found the Amani sunbird in cultivated areas. Even though they were found in a cultivated area, the said area was no more than 800 m from the forest where the bird inhabited. This bird’s breeding season occurs from May to June and September to December. [6]

Conservation Status

As of July 27 2020 the Amani sunbird was declared a threatened species by the IUCN Red list, with only 1,500-7,000 mature individuals alive. Their population is steadily decreasing, while also losing many of their mature individuals as of 2024. The generational lifespan as of 2024 is 2.6 years. The Amani sunbird was declared an endangered species by the IUCN Red List in 2020. The IUCN Redlist states that the amani sunbird has only 2-5 locations left as of 2020. The Amani sunbird is a species that is expiring. [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amani Nature Reserve</span> Protected area in Tanga Region, Tanzania

The Amani Forest Reserve, officially listed as Amani Nature Forest Reserve is a protected area located the Muheza and Korogwe Districts in the Tanga Region of Tanzania. The nature reserve was established in 1997 in order to preserve the unique flora and fauna of the East Usambara Mountains. The East and West Usambara Mountains are a biodiversity hotspot. The Amani Nature Reserve includes tropical cloud forest habitats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellow longbill</span> Species of bird

The yellow longbill is a species of Old World warbler in the family Macrosphenidae. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philippine swiftlet</span> Species of bird

The Philippine swiftlet is a species of swift in the family Apodidae. It is endemic to the Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whitehead's swiftlet</span> Species of bird

Whitehead's swiftlet is a species of swift in the family Apodidae. It is endemic to the Philippines. It is named after the British explorer John Whitehead (1860–1899). Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. Its status is insufficiently known.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rufous coucal</span> Species of bird

The rufous coucal is a species of cuckoo in the family Cuculidae. It is found in Luzon and proximate islands in the Philippines. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forest. It is threatened by habitat loss. Along with the Philippine coucal, Black-faced coucal and the critically endangered Black-hooded coucal, it is one of the 4 endemic coucals.

The Tanna fruit dove is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is endemic to Vanuatu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Handsome sunbird</span> Species of bird

The handsome sunbird is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae. It is endemic to the Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Apo sunbird</span> Species of bird

The Apo sunbird is a species of bird in the sunbird family Nectariniidae. It is endemic to the island of Mindanao in the Philippines.It is found in tropical moist montane forests above 1,500 meters above sea level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flaming sunbird</span> Species of bird

The flaming sunbird is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae. It is endemic to the northern Philippines found on the islands of Luzon and Catanduanes. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forests. It was formerly conspecific with the Maroon-naped sunbird.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lovely sunbird</span> Species of bird

The lovely sunbird is a bird species in the family Nectariniidae. It is endemic to the Philippines. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and tropical moist montane forests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spotted palm thrush</span> Species of bird

The spotted palm thrush, also known as the spotted morning-thrush, is a species of bird in the Muscicapidae family. They are small birds mostly consisting of the colors brown, black, and cream. They can be found in eastern African countries such as Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. Their natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, dry savanna, and subtropical or tropical moist shrubland. This bird is a forager that has a diet consisting of invertebrates. These birds create a variety of different vocal duets as a form of communication.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-lored oriole</span> Species of bird

The white-lored oriole is a species of bird in the family Oriolidae. It is endemic to Luzon island (Philippines). It was formerly conspecific with the Philippine oriole but has since been separated as its own species. It was also formerly theorized that the critically endangered Isabela oriole was this species until it was rediscovered and proven otherwise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden-crowned babbler</span> Species of bird

The golden-crowned babbler is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is endemic to the Philippines found only in the moist tropical forest in Northern Luzon. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Visayan babbler</span> Species of bird

The Visayan babbler also known as the Visayan Black-crowned Babbler. is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is endemic to the Philippines. It is found on Samar, Leyte and Bohol. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forest. It was formerly conspecific to the northern population of the Calabarzon black-crowned babbler but has since been split as a species due to differences in its yellowish throat and whiter belly.

<i>Amanipodagrion</i> Genus of damselflies

Amanipodagrion gilliesi is a species of damselfly. Its monotypic genus Amanipodagrion was formerly in the subfamily Argiolestinae of the flatwing damselfly family (Megapodagrionidae). As a result of molecular phylogenetic studies by Bybee et al. in 2021, it is now in its own family, Amanipodagrionidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grey-throated sunbird</span> Species of bird

The grey-throated sunbird is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae. It is found in a wide range of semi-open wooded habitats in the northern and eastern part of the Philippines. It is often considered a subspecies of the brown-throated sunbird, but the two differ consistently in measurements and plumage, and there is no evidence of intergradation between them.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luzon flameback</span> Species of bird

The Luzon flameback is a species of bird in the family Picidae. It is found on the northern islands of Luzon, Polillo, Catanduanes and Marinduque, Philippines. It is sometimes considered a subspecies of the greater flameback.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellow-faced flameback</span> Species of bird

The yellow-faced flameback is a species of bird in the family Picidae. It is found on the Philippine islands of Negros and Panay. It is extinct on Guimaras, Masbate, and Ticao (extinct). It is one of the most spectacular woodpeckers with its bright yellow head and crimson red back. It is sometimes considered a subspecies of the greater flameback. It is found in moist lowland forests including primary, secondary and even plantations and clearings provided there are still standing trees. It is the rarest woodpecker in the country and it is threatened by habitat loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cebu boobook</span> Species of owl

The Cebu boobook or Cebu hawk-owl is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is endemic to the Philippines. It was formerly considered a subspecies of the Philippine hawk-owl, but was reclassified in 2012, as voice and other data suggested placement in a distinct species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tboli sunbird</span> Subspecies of bird

The Tboli sunbird is a subspecies of bird in the sunbird family Nectariniidae. It is endemic to the Philippines found only in the mountains of south Mindanao. Its natural habitat is tropical moist montane forest starting from 800 meters above sea level. This subspecies is recognized as a distinct species by The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World.

References

  1. BirdLife International (2016). "Hedydipna pallidigaster". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T22717653A94544325. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22717653A94544325.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. Amani Sunbird – An Endangered Bird Archived 2013-07-29 at archive.today . Endangered Species 360°. Retrieved July 29th, 2013.
  3. Jensen, Flemming P.; Boesman, Peter F. D. (2022). "Amani Sunbird (Hedydipna pallidigaster), version 2.0". Birds of the World. doi:10.2173/bow.amasun2.02. ISSN   2771-3105.
  4. Jensen, Flemming P.; Boesman, Peter F. D. (2022). "Amani Sunbird (Hedydipna pallidigaster), version 2.0". Birds of the World. doi:10.2173/bow.amasun2.02. ISSN   2771-3105.
  5. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Luca-Borghesio/publication/263654428_Observations_of_threatened_birds_in_the_East_Usambara_Mountains_Tanzania/links/58fd01e6aca2723d79dbbb5a/Observations-of-threatened-birds-in-the-East-Usambara-Mountains-Tanzania.pdf
  6. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22717653/180120536
  7. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22717653/180120536