Cinnyris shelleyi
The Shelley's Sunbird (Cinnyris shelleyi) is a striking member of the Nectariniidae family, a group of Old World birds functionally convergent with New World hummingbirds. Males are a dazzling spectacle of iridescent green, blue, and purple on the head and upperparts, with a contrasting bright yellow belly, a narrow purple chest band, and often elongated central tail feathers. Females are much plainer, predominantly olive-green above and yellowish below, lacking the male's metallic sheen, whi...
Found primarily in open woodlands, savannas, miombo woodlands, and forest edges, often frequenting cultivated gardens and parks. It typically occurs at low to mid-elevations.
Primarily feeds on nectar extracted from a variety of flowering plants, making it an important pollinator. It also supplements its diet with small insects and spiders, which are crucial for protein, especially during breeding.
Shelley's Sunbirds are diurnal and highly active, spending their days meticulously foraging for nectar and insects. They employ a 'hover-and-sip' strategy for nectar, using their specialized bills to probe deep into flowers, and also glean insects from foliage or hawk them in flight. Males are hi...
Shelley's Sunbird is widely distributed across East and Southern Africa. Its primary breeding range extends from central Tanzania south through Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and into the northeastern parts of South Africa (Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces). The species is generally reside...
Least Concern
- The male Shelley's Sunbird possesses remarkable iridescent plumage that can shift in color from emerald green to coppery red depending on the angle of light, a phenomenon called structural coloration. - It is named in honor of Captain George Ernest Shelley, a British geologist and ornithologist...