Cinnyris johannae
Johanna's Sunbird (Cinnyris johannae) is a captivating passerine, measuring approximately 12-14 cm in length, renowned for its spectacular iridescent plumage in males. The male boasts a glittering emerald-green head, nape, mantle, and rump, contrasting sharply with a vibrant throat and a distinctive breast pattern: a narrow purple-blue band, followed by a bright orange-yellow band, and then a broad scarlet-red breast-band. Its olive-yellow belly completes a dazzling display, while its long, d...
Primarily inhabits lowland tropical and subtropical rainforests, including forest edges, clearings, and mature secondary growth, typically found at elevations up to 1200 meters, occasionally higher.
Feeds primarily on nectar extracted from a variety of flowering plants, supplemented significantly by small insects and spiders, which are caught through gleaning or short aerial sallies.
Johanna's Sunbird is a highly active and agile species, typically observed singly or in pairs, though it may join mixed-species foraging flocks. Its daily activity is centered around finding food, flitting rapidly between flowering plants. Foraging involves a combination of hovering and perching,...
Johanna's Sunbird exhibits a disjunct distribution across the tropical rainforest belt of West and Central Africa. Its western population spans from Ghana eastward through Togo, Benin, Nigeria, and western Cameroon. The larger, central population extends from eastern Cameroon through Equatorial G...
Least Concern
- The male Johanna's Sunbird displays one of the most vibrant and complex breast patterns among all sunbird species, featuring distinct bands of purple-blue, orange-yellow, and scarlet-red. - Despite its relatively small size of 12-14 cm, its long, decurved bill can account for a significant port...