Seychelles sunbird
| Seychelles Sunbird | |
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| Female at nest with arachnid in bill | |
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| Species: | C. dussumieri
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| Binomial name | |
| Cinnyris dussumieri (Hartlaub, 1861)
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The Seychelles Sunbird (Cinnyris dussumieri) is a small passerine from the family of sunbirds. It is named after the French explorer Jean-Jacques Dussumier. It is native to the Seychelles, where it is known as kolibri in Seychellois Creole. This bird is variously placed in the Cinnyris genus.
Description
It can reach a length from eleven to twelve centimetres. The plumage is dull grey. The male exhibits an iridescent violett-green patch on its throat and yellow tufts under its wings. The long slender bill is downcurved. The legs are black. The song of the males is surprisingly high pitched, noisy and harsh.
Distribution
It occurs on most of the larger granitic islands of the Seychelles Bank. It belongs to the endemic landbird species of the Seychelles which had adapted to human made environment changes in the best way. Its habitat consists of forests, gardens, scrubs, and mangroves from sea level to altitudes of 900 m.
Diet
On its preying for food it is very active, flying to hibiscus and other flowers and feed of nectar and insects.
Reproduction
Breeding is the entire year but the best time is September and October. One single egg is laid in a pear-shaped nest. It consists of grass and moss and is bound with spiderwebs. To protect the nest from cats and rats it hangs usually at the end of a twig.
References
- Robert A. Cheke, Clive Mann & Richard Allen (2001) - Sunbirds: A Guide to the Sunbirds, Spiderhunters, Sugarbirds and Flowerpeckers of the World (Helm Identification Guides), Yale University Press