Drepanorhynchus reichenowi
The Golden-winged Sunbird (Drepanorhynchus reichenowi) is an avian jewel of East Africa's high-altitude environments, instantly recognizable by its striking golden-yellow flight feathers, a truly unique characteristic among sunbirds. Males boast an iridescent green head, throat, and mantle, transitioning to a deep crimson belly and rump, all complemented by an exceptionally long, decurved bill and distinctive elongated central tail feathers that contribute to its overall length of 19-25 cm (i...
This specialized sunbird inhabits high-altitude Afromontane forests, sub-alpine heath, bamboo zones, and ericaceous moorland, typically found between 1,800 to 3,600 meters elevation.
Primarily a nectivore, feeding on the sweet liquid from a variety of montane flowering plants, the Golden-winged Sunbird also supplements its diet with small insects and spiders gleaned from vegetation.
The Golden-winged Sunbird is a highly active, diurnal species, often observed singly or in pairs, though small groups may aggregate at particularly rich nectar sources. Its primary foraging strategy involves acrobatic hovering or perching to extract nectar from long-tubed flowers with its special...
The Golden-winged Sunbird is an endemic resident of the high-altitude regions of East Africa, with its primary distribution encompassing the montane forests and moorlands of Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, and northern Tanzania. Key populations are found in major ...
Least Concern
- The Golden-winged Sunbird is the sole member of its genus, *Drepanorhynchus*, highlighting its distinct evolutionary path among sunbirds. - Its most striking feature, the golden-yellow flight feathers, is unique among all sunbird species and highly visible in flight. - This bird is a high-altit...