Cinnyris manoensis
The Eastern Miombo Sunbird (Cinnyris manoensis) is a striking passerine bird endemic to the Miombo woodlands of south-central Africa. Males exhibit stunning iridescent plumage, characterized by a metallic green head and back, a deep crimson breast band, and a narrow blue-violet gorget that is only visible in certain light. Females are considerably duller, featuring olive-green upperparts and pale yellow, lightly streaked underparts, lacking the male's vibrant colors. This small sunbird typica...
Primarily inhabiting the semi-arid Miombo woodlands, this species also occurs in savanna-woodland mosaics, often frequenting areas with abundant flowering trees and shrubs, including gardens. It typically occurs from lowlands up to 1,800 meters elevation.
The primary diet consists of nectar from a variety of flowering plants, supplemented significantly by small insects and spiders gleaned from foliage or caught in flight.
Eastern Miombo Sunbirds are highly active, diurnal birds, spending much of their day foraging for nectar and insects. They employ a specialized foraging technique, hovering like hummingbirds or perching to probe flowers with their long, decurved bills and brush-tipped tongues. Males are territori...
The Eastern Miombo Sunbird is endemic to the Miombo woodland belt of south-central Africa, exhibiting a relatively wide distribution across several countries. Its range extends from central Angola eastward through the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) into Zambia and Malawi. Further south, it is...
Least Concern
- The Eastern Miombo Sunbird shares remarkable similarities with hummingbirds, particularly their ability to hover while feeding on nectar, a classic example of convergent evolution. - Its long, decurved bill and tubular, brush-tipped tongue are perfectly adapted for extracting nectar from deep f...