Mayotte Sunbird Cinnyris coquerellii Scientific name definitions

10 cm; male 9 g, female 7g. Male has crown, side of head , throat , back to rump, and lesser and median upperwing-coverts glossy dark green, with small amount of purple iridescence on upper­tail-coverts and varying amounts on back; remiges and rectrices black, tinged glossy blue; purple band across upper breast and some purple on throat; pectoral tufts bright yellow, centre of breast orange-red, this colour extending into a point through lower breast to belly; rest of underparts yellow, more buff on vent; iris dark brown; bill and legs black. Female is grey-brown above , rump and uppertail-coverts greenish, wings darker and browner, wing-coverts plain grey, tail glossy bluish-black; throat to breast pale grey with indistinct darker streaking, rest of underparts yellowish, brighter in centre of belly, whitish on vent, with lower flanks and undertail-coverts greyish-white, underwing-coverts white, axillaries pale yellow; bare parts as male. Juvenile undescribed.

Mayotte and nearby islets, in SE Comoros.

Insects, including pupae and larvae, spiders (Araneae), and presumably nectar . Few other details.

Variety of harsh chipping notes  .

Nest-building observed in Oct and Nov and birds with active gonads also in Oct–Nov. Nest constructed from fine grass, thickly lined with white silken asclepiad pappus, strands of fine grass straggling untidily for c. 10 cm from bottom of nest, similar in size to those of C. humbloti and C. comorensis but top of entrance only 2 cm from top of nest; suspended 3 m above ground. Male with unossified skull and not yet in full breeding plumage had active testes, indicating possible breeding before full maturity reached. No other information.