Blue-headed Sunbird (Cyanomitra alinae)

Other Names (World)
Blue-headed Sunbird, Rwenzori Blue-headed Sunbird

Family
Nectariniidae (Sunbirds)

Size
12 - 14 cm

First Described (Guide)
(Jackson, 1904)

Habitat
Subtropical and tropical montane moist forest. From 1,400 - 3,280 m.

Range (Guide)

Burundi, Congo [The Democratic Republic of the], Rwanda, Uganda.

Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.

Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).

Status LC
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Voice
A high-pitched 'tsee see'. A rapid song of chipping notes.

Xeno-Canto Sound Files (more (15)...)

Blue-headed Sunbird (Cyanomitra alinae) [XC194614]
by Peter Boesman from Nyungwe NP, Rwanda (song)

Blue-headed Sunbird (Cyanomitra alinae) [XC739629]
by Brendan Sloan from Ruhija, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Kisoro, Western Region, Uganda (call)

Subspecies
Has been thought to be possibly part of a superspecies formed by Green-headed Sunbird (Cyanomitra verticalis), Bannerman's Sunbird (Cyanomitra bannermani) and Cameroon Sunbird (Cyanomitra oritis).

Proposed subspecies vulcanorum (described from western Kivu Volcanoes, in eastern DRCongo) considered a synonym of tanganjicae.

The following 5 subspecies are recognised:

derooi (Prigogine, 1975) - North-eastern DRCongo in two main populations (one west of L Albert, the other west of L Edward).
alinae (Jackson, 1904) - North-eastern DRCongo (western Rwenzori Mts, Virunga Volcanoes) and south-western Uganda (eastern Rwenzoris, Bwindi Forest).
tanganjicae (Reichenow, 1915) - Eastern DRCongo (mountains west of L Kivu, Itombwe Mts, Nwest of L Tanganyika), Rwanda (Nyungwe forest, Seast of L Kivu) and Burundi.
kaboboensis (Prigogine, 1975) - Mt Kabobo, in eastern DRCongo.
marungensis (Prigogine, 1975) - Marungu Mts, in south-eastern DRCongo.

References
See References.

Files:

JPG files for Blue-headed Sunbird (Cyanomitra alinae) - 10 files

More Information

BirdLife International

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BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

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