Anthreptes longuemarei
The Western Violet-backed Sunbird, *Anthreptes longuemarei*, is a dazzling avian jewel of West and Central African woodlands, captivating observers with its brilliant plumage and active lifestyle. Males boast spectacular iridescent violet to blue-violet upperparts, contrasting sharply with a pristine white belly and dark flight feathers, while females present a more understated elegance with olive-green upperparts and pale yellowish underparts, showcasing marked sexual dimorphism. Both sexes ...
Found in open woodlands, savannas, forest edges, secondary growth, plantations, and well-vegetated gardens, typically at low to mid-elevations from sea level up to around 1,500 meters.
Primarily feeds on nectar from a variety of flowering plants, supplemented by small insects, spiders, and occasionally small fruits, foraging by probing flowers and gleaning from foliage.
Western Violet-backed Sunbirds are diurnal and highly active, spending their days flitting rapidly between flowering plants. They are typically seen singly or in pairs, occasionally joining mixed-species foraging flocks, especially during periods of abundant resources. Foraging involves agile hov...
The Western Violet-backed Sunbird is endemic to West and Central Africa, spanning a wide distribution from Senegal in the west, through Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria. Its range extends eastward into Cameroon, the Central African...
Least Concern
- Males' iridescent violet plumage can appear brilliant blue, purple, or even black depending on the angle of light, a phenomenon known as structural coloration. - Like hummingbirds, sunbirds can hover in front of flowers, but they more frequently perch to feed, conserving energy. - The slender, ...