Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird Anthreptes orientalis

A fairly small sunbird with an unusually short, warbler-like bill. The male has an iridescent violet head and back, while the female has brownish upperparts, white underparts, and a white eyebrow. Found in dry thorn savanna and thorn scrub, often in pairs. Very similar to Western Violet-backed Sunbird, but in the area of overlap, Eastern is separated by the male’s turquoise rather than violet rump, and by the female’s pure white rather than yellow-tinged belly. Also similar to Uluguru Violet-backed Sunbird, but found in different habitats, and separated by the white rather than gray underparts of the male and the white eyebrow of the female. Vocalizations include a scolding mew and a high-pitched jumbled song.