Black-bellied Sunbird Cinnyris nectarinioides Scientific name definitions

Male 13 cm, female 10 cm; 4–6 g. Male nominate race breeding has head, upperparts, including lesser wing-coverts, and chin and throat metallic golden-green with blue reflections, bases of feathers black, uppertail-coverts dark metallic blue, edges purple occasionally; uppertail black, tinged glossy greenish-blue at edges and with faint glossy blue bands across feathers, elongated central rectrices protrude 16–22 mm beyond the rest; brown-black remiges, primaries browner, secondaries tinged glossy purple-blue; metallic dark purple-blue band on chest above broad (13–19 mm deep) orange-red breastband, pectoral tufts yellow, rest of underparts black, slightly streaked white on flanks; iris brown or black; bill and legs black. Non-breeding male (eclipse plumage) similar to breeding, but upperparts dull brown with green metallic patches, some metallic green on throat, and some whitish-yellow feathers in breastband and underparts. Female is dull yellow-olive above, streaked dark brown on crown and mantle, with yellow streak over eye, dark brown remiges with pale yellow outer edges; tail as male, but outer feathers broadly tipped white on inner margin and with narrow white strip on outer edge, inner web of end of adjoining pair also tipped white, central rectrices not elongated; pale yellow below, chin to throat , side of breast and flanks finely streaked dusky brown to olive-grey, pale yellow malar streak, middle of belly and undertail-coverts pale yellow; bare parts as male. Juvenile is as female, but wing feathers yellower at margins, chin and throat brown-grey and contrasting malar stripe pale yellow, breast mottled, not streaked. Race <em>erlangeri</em> male has breastband redder and less deep (12 mm), metallic feathering blue-green, less golden-green, and lacks pectoral tufts.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Nectar , insects, and spiders (Araneae). Forages mainly at higher levels in trees. Visits flowers of acacias, baobab (Adansonia digitata) and mistletoes (Loranthaceae, especially genus Loranthus).

Song consists of 6–20 “tsk”, “chip” or “che” notes, repeated 6–7 times per second, followed by brief warble of rising and falling “tsi” notes accelerating at end of sequence; whole song repeated during periods of more than three minutes. The “tsk”, “chip” or “che” notes are used also as calls.