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Passeriformes
Family
Nectariniidae
Genus
Chalcomitra
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- Socotra Sunbird
© Robert Hutchinson
- Socotra Sunbird
- Socotra Sunbird
- Socotra Sunbird
- Socotra Sunbird

Socotra Sunbird Chalcomitra balfouri Scientific name definitions

Robert Cheke and Clive Mann
Version: 1.0 — Published March 4, 2020
Text last updated January 1, 2008

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Originally Appeared in

HBW Alive

Field Identification

Male 12·5–14 cm, female 11·5–12 cm; unsexed 8–15 g. Male is dull brown above, with pale streaking on crown, and fewer similar streaks on nape and mantle; sooty-black lores and area around eye, narrow buffy grey supercilium extending back beyond ear-coverts; tail blackish with slight bluish gloss, white outer webs of outer rectrices, and white tips on all rectrices (diminishing in size from outer to inner); primaries dark brown with greyish-white and olive edging (forming pale panel), upperwing-coverts dull brown with greyish edging; narrow dull black moustachial stripe, white submoustachial stripe broadening towards cheek, black malar stripe; chin and throat dark greyish-brown with darker mottling; feathers of breast dark brown, broadly tipped grey (giving scaled effect), belly pale grey, slightly scaled on upper belly and at side, flanks become pale greyish-brown towards rear, vent to undertail-coverts white; pectoral tufts bright yellow, underwing-coverts pale greyish-white; iris red or reddish-brown; bill and legs blackish. Female is very similar to male but smaller, has barred submoustachial stripe, less clearly patterned chin to lower breast, and lacks pectoral tufts. Juvenile differs from adult in having brown iris, pale yellowish lower mandible, and dark grey feet with yellowish soles.

Systematics History

Differs from congeners in lacking pronounced sexual dichromatism (both sexes have female-type plumage). Monotypic.

Subspecies

Monotypic.

Distribution

Socotra.

Habitat

All vegetated areas, and more numerous where vegetation is more substantial; sea-level to 1370 m.

Movement

None recorded.

Diet and Foraging

Insects, including small cicadas (Cicadidae), also spiders (Araneae); also small fruits (e.g. of Euphorbia), seeds and presumably nectar. Forages singly and in pairs. Very active; catches insects in flight or on the ground. Seen to probe flowers, including those of Calotropis procera, Croton species and Trichocalyx obovatus.

Sounds and Vocal Behavior

Song loud and varied, a series of short or long bursts of quick jangling notes; also mimics other species, including Socotra Warbler (Incana incana). Shrill hoarse alarm calls, squeaky, strident “zii”; alarm or aggressive call harsh and grating “tcheep-up” or “tchee”.

Breeding

Laying probably in Jan–May; nestlings found in Mar and May, fledglings in Feb, and juveniles early Feb to late Mar. Nest dome-shaped, with large oval entrance, made of loosely woven fine grasses and cobwebs, lined with white plant wool and possibly goat hair, concealed among branches 2·5 m above ground in Euphorbia arbuscula tree or suspended in thick bush and creepers. Clutch 1–3 eggs. No other information.

Conservation Status

Conservation status on Birdlife LC Least Concern
Not globally threatened. Restrictedrange species: present in Socotra EBA. Common. Total population estimated at approximately 11,000 pairs; densities 6–12 birds/ km². Overgrazing could reduce numbers of this island-restricted species.
Distribution of the Socotra Sunbird - Range Map
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  • Year-round
  • Migration
  • Breeding
  • Non-Breeding
Distribution of the Socotra Sunbird

eBird and Macaulay Library

Recommended Citation

Cheke, R. and C. Mann (2020). Socotra Sunbird (Chalcomitra balfouri), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.socsun2.01
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