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| Photo by Warwick Tarboton (Warwick Tarboton) |
Common name:
miombo double-collared sunbird (en); beija-flor-do-miombo (pt); souïmanga du miombo (fr); suimanga del miombo (es); miombonektarvogel (de)
Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Nectariniidae
Range:
This African species is patchily distributed between Angola, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and northern Mozambique.
Size:
These birds are 13 cm long and weigh around 9 g.
Habitat:
The miombo double-collared sunbird is mostly found in miombo Brachystegia sp. woodlands, but also occupies mountain habitats such as Leucospermum, Erica and Protea scrublands, well wooded gardens and Acacia savannas. They are mostly found at altitudes of 1.000-1.400 m.
Diet:
They feed on the nectar of a wide range of plants, such as mistletoes, Tecoma capensis, Leonotis sp., Gladiolus dalenii, Holmskioldia sp., Aloe sp., Kniphofia sp., Bauhinia variegata and Callistemon viminalis. They also take some insects and spiders.
Breeding:
Miombo double-collared sunbirds breed all year round. The nest is built solely by the female, consisting of a thick-walled oval-shaped structure made of forbs, shredded bark, dry leaves and fine grass, bound together with spider webs. It is typically suspended from a tree branch or occasionally beneath a house porch or building overhang. The female lays 1-3 eggs, which she incubates alone for 14-16 days. The chicks are mainly fed by the female, fledging 13-15 days after hatching. They become fully independent 1 week later.
Conservation:
IUCN status – LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is is described as local and uncommon in Tanzania, locally common in Angola, common in Zimbabwe and uncommon in Zambia. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.
