The gorgeous sunbird (Cinnyris melanogastrus) is a small passerine bird in the sunbird family Nectariniidae that is found in southern Kenya and Tanzania. It was formerly placed in the Nectarinia genus, a genus of the Nectariniidae family but was later changed to the Cinnyrus genus.[2] It was also formerly considered to be conspecific with the beautiful sunbird.
The gorgeous sunbird was formally described in 1884 by the German explorer Gustav Fischer and ornithologist Anton Reichenow based on a specimen collected near the Nguruman Escarpment in southern Kenya. They coined the binomial nameNectarinia melanogastra.[2][3] The specific epithet combines the Ancient Greek μελας/melas meaning "black" and γαστηρ/gastēr meaning "belly".[4] The gorgeous sunbird is now one of 64 sunbirds placed in the genusCinnyris that was introduced in 1816 by the French naturalist Georges Cuvier.[5] It was formerly considered to be conspecific with the beautiful sunbird (Cinnyris pulchellus). The species were split based on the differences in morphology. The gorgeous sunbird is monotypic: no subspecies are recognised.[5]
Description
Male sunbirds have bright green feathers, a blue and black tail, and a yellow and red chest, which helps them stand out easily. They normally grow to about 15-17 centimeters (6-7 inches) in length and weigh between 7-9.5 grams (0.25-0.33 ounces). They also have a tail as long as their bodies.[6]
However, female Gorgeous Sunbirds have a different appearance from males. Female Gorgeous Sunbirds appear more subtle and neutral. Their bodies are mainly brown with a pale yellowish stripe behind the eye and a light yellow belly. They are a lot smaller in size, being 11 centimeters (4 inches) in length and 7-9.7 grams (0.25-0.34 ounces) in weight.[6]
They both have the same crescent-shaped, slightly curved beak. The shape of their beaks makes it a lot easier for them to drink nectar from flowers.[6] Their chirps are said to be a jumble of high-pitched sounds, and they typically produce a rattling series.[7]
Habitat and Range
These birds live in central Tanzania as well as south-central Kenya. These Gorgeous Sunbirds don't migrate like many other birds; they can stay in their home environment all year round.[6] This is due to their environment being stable in weather and food supply all year. They are mostly found in elevations between 700 and 1,300 meters (2,300-4,250 feet) above sea level. They like to live in areas like shrublands, savannahs, and forests.[6][7]
Diet and Foraging
The Gorgeous Sunbird has a diet similar to the Beautiful Sunbird(Cinnyris Pulchellus).[6] These birds' diets consist of nectar, flowers, insects, and spiders. These birds also forage from many plants in their region and often are seen foraging flowers in gardens.[6]
Nesting
These birds typically have a purse-shaped nest roughly 1-5 meters above the ground and are made up of dry leaves, vegetation, feathers, and cobwebs.[6]
Conservation status
Gorgeous sunbirds are not endangered according to the IUCN Red List.[7] The population size for this species is still unknown. Regardless, they are believed to have a stable population. Again, according to the IUCN Red List, the entire territorial range of the Gorgeous Sunbirds is a conservation site to prevent a decrease in population from outside influences. There are limited threats to this species, so no other special conservation actions are needed.[7]
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