Grey sunbird

Grey sunbird
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Nectariniidae
Genus:	Cyanomitra
Species:	C. veroxii
Binomial name
Cyanomitra veroxii (Smith, A, 1832)
Synonyms
Nectarinia veroxii, Cyanomitra veroxii

The grey sunbird or mouse-coloured sunbird (Cyanomitra veroxii) is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae. It is found in Eswatini, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia, South Africa, and Tanzania.

Diet

This species feeds on nectar. It has been recorded to feed on the nectar of Schotia brachypetala ^[2] and Kigelia africana. It even engages in nectar robbing by piercing a hole in the side of the corolla. ^[3] It is also a pollinator of 10 genera of plants with uses that are medicinal, edible or may be used as a building material. ^[4]

Juvenile

References

1. BirdLife International (2016). "Cyanomitra verreauxii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T22717699A94547409. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22717699A94547409.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
2. Symes, C. T., Yoganand, K. (1 January 2013). "Schotia brachypetala - a nectar cornucopia for birds". Bulletin of the African Bird Club. 20 (1): 39–44. doi:10.5962/p.309992.
3. Newman, E., Govender, K., Van Niekerk, S., Johnson, S. D. (2 February 2021). "The functional ecology of bat pollination in the African sausage tree Kigelia africana (Bignoniaceae)" . Biotropica. 53 (2): 477–486. doi:10.1111/btp.12891.
4. Newmark, W. D., Mkongewa, V. J., Amundsen, D. L., Welch, C. (21 December 2019). "African sunbirds predominantly pollinate plants useful to humans". Ornithological Applications. 122 (2). doi:10.1093/condor/duz070.

External links

• Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds.