Cyanomitra cyanolaema
The Blue-throated Brown Sunbird (Cyanomitra cyanolaema) is a strikingly beautiful, yet often subtly observed, avian jewel of Africa's rainforests. Measuring approximately 13-14 cm in length and weighing 10-15 grams, the male boasts a vibrant, iridescent blue-green throat and upper breast that contrasts sharply with his olive-brown upperparts and a duller yellowish belly. Females, while lacking the male's dazzling throat, are still attractive with their olive-brown plumage above and dull yello...
Primarily inhabits moist lowland and submontane tropical broadleaf forests, extending into forest edges, mature secondary growth, and occasionally plantations and gardens, typically found from sea level up to 2,000 meters.
Feeds predominantly on nectar, extracted from a variety of flowering plants, supplemented significantly by small insects and spiders gleaned from leaves and bark.
This diurnal sunbird is a highly active and agile species, typically observed alone or in pairs, though it may join mixed-species foraging flocks. Foraging involves acrobatic maneuvers, including hovering hummingbird-like before flowers to extract nectar with its specialized tongue, or gleaning s...
The Blue-throated Brown Sunbird exhibits a disjunct distribution across the tropical forests of West and Central Africa. Its western range extends from Sierra Leone eastward through Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire, and Ghana. A significant gap in its distribution is observed before reappearing in southern...
Least Concern
- The male's iridescent blue-green throat can appear almost black in poor lighting, only revealing its true brilliance when catching the light correctly. - Unlike hummingbirds, which are restricted to the Americas, sunbirds like the Blue-throated Brown are Old World equivalents, showcasing a rema...