Amani Sunbird

The Amaninektarvogel ( Hedydipna pallidigaster ) is a Singvogelart from the family of sunbirds ( Nectariniidae ). It is widespread in Kenya and Tanzania.

Features

The Amaninektarvogel is reached, a very small bird nectar of a length of 9 cm. The males are from the head to the dark coat, purple iridescent blue-green. Back and rump are blackish, the color of their upper tail-coverts and tail feathers is metallic blue-violet. From the throat to the upper chest, coloring in the center is metallic dark ink blue purple surrounded by dark green. His remaining underside is greyish white. The pectoral tufts of feathers are orange, yellow at the base.

The females have a white eye-streak over and grayish white ear-coverts. Your top is dark gray with a metallic sheen, the underside white. The wings are dark brown with white under wing-coverts, the tips of the tail feathers are white.

The iris is dark brown, beak, legs and feet black.

Dissemination

The Amaninektarvogel occurs only in Kenya and Tanzania. The distribution of these operations is limited to the Arabuko Sokoke National Park, as well as the Usambara Mountains and the Udzungwa Mountains. Overall, the population size is estimated at about 1500-7000 adult individuals. Due to the small-scale distribution and the rarity of the species and the destruction of rainforests in the Amaninektarvogel by the IUCN as " critically endangered " ( endangered ) is estimated.

Habitat and behavior

The Amaninektarvogel inhabited intact Brachystegiawälder and tropical rainforests. On Nilo he comes up against in 1000 m height. The birds are in pairs, in family groups or in groups of up to 60 animals, often in mixed flocks, for example, flycatchers, go. In addition to the staple diet of nectar and insects and other arthropods are on the menu. The breeding season is from May to June and September to December. The eggs are incubated only by the female, the chicks fed by both parents.

Etymology and History of Research

William and Reginald Ernest Moreau Lutley Sclater described the Amaninektarvogel under the basionym Anthreptes pallidigaster '. The type specimen was collected on August 9, 1935 in Tanzania by the collector Salimu Asmani 4 miles east of Amani.

The word is of Greek origin and Hedydipna derives " sipping, eating sweet treats " from the words " Hedu - deipnos ἡδύ - δειπνος " for starting. The epithet " pallidigaster " is composed of the Latin words " pallidus " for " pale, pale " and " gaster " for " belly" together.