Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird

Anthreptes orientalis - Souimanga du Kenya

Souimanga du Kenya
♀ adult
Systematics
  • Order 
    :

    Passeriformes

  • Family
    :

    Nectariniidés

  • Genus
    :

    Anthreptes

  • Species
    :

    orientalis

Descriptor

Hartlaub, 1880

Biometrics
  • Size
    : 12 cm
  • Wingspan
    : -
  • Weight
    : 8 à 12 g
Geographic range

Distribution

Identification

Souimanga du Kenya
♂ adult
Souimanga du Kenya
♀ adult

The Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird of Kenya has a different look from most sunbirds. It has a disproportionately larger head, longer tail and shorter bill. It looks somewhat like a warbler. It shows a very distinct sexual dimorphism. The male has very dark, almost black upperparts with violet reflections on the hooded head, back, shoulders and tail. The wings are more brown. The lesser coverts tend towards iridescent blue. The underside of the body is white from the middle of the throat to the undertail coverts. The flanks are grayish. It is reputed to have yellow throat tufts but these are rarely visible. The black bill is short (equal to the distance between the front and the eye), fairly thick and slightly curved. The iris is brown. The legs are black. The female is less contrasted. The upper body and head are a relatively cold brown-grey. The wings are a little darker. A distinct white eyebrow runs from the bill to the nape. From the male, she only retains the violet tail and undertail coverts. The underside, from the bill to the tail, is white, often shaded with yellow. The juvenile is similar to the female with a darker upper part and a yellower underside.

Subspecific information monotypic species

Foreign names

  • Souimanga du Kenya,
  • Suimanga keniata,
  • nectarínia-de-rabadilha-turquesa,
  • Schwalbennektarvogel,
  • kenyai nektármadár,
  • Zwaluwhoningzuiger,
  • Nettarinia dorsoviola del Kenya,
  • törnsolfågel,
  • Tornsolfugl,
  • nektárovka savanová,
  • strdimil vlaštovčí,
  • Østafrikansk Solfugl,
  • violettimedestäjä,
  • suimanga de Kenya,
  • nektarzyk sawannowy,
  • Ласточковая короткохвостая нектарница,
  • ヒガシスミレコバシタイヨウチョウ,
  • 东紫背食蜜鸟,
  • 東方紫背直嘴太陽鳥,

Voice song and cries

Souimanga du Kenya
♂ adult

Perched atop the trees, standing upright and beak pointed up, the Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird of Kenya produces short, rapid, ascending and descending chirps, too-wit-woo-tweu, zeet-zeet occasionally with two chwee.

Habitat

Souimanga du Kenya
♀ adult

The Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird lives in high-altitude, wooded areas with Acacia and juniper trees, in woodlands near water, but it also enjoys dry scrubland and open forests.

Behaviour character trait

Souimanga du Kenya
♀ adult

You can usually find it in pairs regardless of the time of year or in small groups. It easily mingles with the flocks of birds, which makes it easier to find food. During the nesting period, the species becomes territorial.

Dietfeeding habits

Souimanga du Kenya
♂ adult

The Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird of Kenya feeds on insects, spiders and nectar. It is among the foliage and behind tree bark that it looks for its prey. It has the ability, even if minimal, to fly in place in order to grab spiders from their webs.

Reproduction nesting

Souimanga du Kenya
♀ adult

The Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird's nesting takes place year-round, though the period may vary depending on the country.

Souimanga du Kenya
The nest is suspended on the end of a thin branch of a bush, sometimes close to wasp nests. It is oval shaped with a lateral entrance that has a small roof to protect it. It is woven mainly with dry herbs, intertwined filaments, wool and hairs, and lined with kapok inside. The Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird has the particularity of adorning its nest with old mantid oothecae that it attaches to the branch. The female lays one or two greyish-green eggs with dark grey or brown spots. There are no data on the incubation period nor feeding time but if we follow other sunbird species, the female can incubate around ten days and the feeding around two weeks.

Geographic range

Souimanga du Kenya
♀ adult

The Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird is found and breeds in the Sudan, Ethiopia where it is common. It is also fairly common in southern Somalia and locally common in the northwest. It is a locally uncommon resident in Kenya and Uganda. There is no known migratory movement today for this taxon.

Threats - protection

Souimanga du Kenya
♂ adult
IUCN conservation status
Extinct
Threatened
Least
concern
Extinc
in the Wild
Near
threatened
Not
evaluated
EX EW CR EN VU NT LC NE

The Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird is not threatened and its population is stable. It is generally common in its range, except for Kenya where it is rarer.

Sources of information

Other sources of interest

QRcode Souimanga du KenyaSpecification sheet created on 22/07/2023 by
Translation by AI Oiseaux.net
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