Green-backed Honeybird (Prodotiscus zambesiae) [XC289350]
by Carl Beel from Kapenguria Road, Lower Kabete, Nairobi, Kenya (call, flight call)
Green-backed Honeybird (Prodotiscus zambesiae) [XC441139]
by id from Lazy J Ranch, Lusaka, Zambia (call)
Subspecies
Forms a superspecies with Cassin's Honeybird (Prodotiscus insignis), with which has been considered conspecific. The two may meet in Angola, where some birds possibly intermediate, including unassignable form known as "lathburyi". Further study is required. Northern Tanzanian birds formerly separated as subspecies reichenowi, but this is now considered a synonym of ellenbecki.
The following 3 subspecies are recognised:
ellenbecki Erlanger, 1901 - Southern Ethiopia, Kenya and northern Tanzania.
zambesiae Shelley, 1894 - Central Angola, southern Zaire and southern Tanzania, south to north-eastern Namibia, southern Zimbabwe and central Mozambique.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet