Sao Tome Sunbird Dreptes thomensis Scientific name definitions

Male 20–23 cm, 21–28 g; female 18–19 cm, 18–21 g. Unmistakable; the largest sunbird, with all-blackish plumage, long decurved bill, and long graduated tail (outer rectrix 28–48 mm shorter than central pair). Male has head and upperparts black, feathers edged slightly metallic steel-blue, greyer on rump; uppertail-coverts and lesser and median upperwing-coverts tipped metallic blue; remiges dark brown; tail black, tinged dark blue, outer three feather pairs tipped white; dark brown below, feathers tipped metallic blue, belly to vent with yellow wash; pale grey-buff underwing-coverts and axillaries tipped white; iris dark brown or red; bill and legs black. Female is like male but smaller, wing length 79–84 cm (male 85–94 cm), tail 69–76 cm (male 84–98 cm). Juvenile resembles a small adult.

São Tomé, in Gulf of Guinea.

Montane forest, including mistforest, also lowland primary forest and plantations; also strays into disturbed habitats up to 1 km from forest. Lowlands to c. 2000 m.

Resident.

Insects; also nectar and fruit pulp. Forages for insects on leaves, and hovers to feed from beneath leaves; probes flowers and bark in canopy.

Song a series of 3 notes each 1 second long, “chee-cheep-eeep” or “tsweet-chut-uu” or “huèt-tsip-tsuit”, often followed by “chut, chut, chit chit”. Call a loud “cheep”. Lekking males call “tic-tic-tic-tic-tic-tic”, followed by “tsi-tsu-huee, tsi-tsiu-tsiu” or “huit-huit-rruit-rruit”.

Egg-laying Sept–Jan. Possibly polygynous; females outnumber males by factor of 2 at some localities. Apparent lekking behaviour recorded, several males gathering together to sing. Nest a pouch, with side entrance and small porch, made of moss and other plant material, with long dangling “beard”, suspended 4–10 m above ground from end of long branch. Clutch 2 eggs, elongate, white with small red spots. No other information.

VULNERABLE. Restrictedrange species: present in Sâo Tomé EBA. Rare to locally common. Global population in range 250–999 individuals, and believed stable; extent of available habitat estimated at 340 km². Threatened by forest clearance. Large areas of lowland and middle-altitude forest already lost to plantations, and number of small farms has increased and tree-cutting accelerated as a result of land privatization. Clearance of forest for cultivation, timber and fuelwood an additional threat; likewise, road-building developments along E & W coasts have allowed increased human access to previously remote areas. Proposals made to designate primary forests as ecological zones or national parks, but forest currently unprotected; law providing for listing of protected areas and for protection of threatened species has still to be ratified.