Gurney's Sugarbird (Promerops gurneyi) [XC535345]
by Dawie de Swardt from Iron Crown Tower, Haenertsburg, Limpopo, South Africa (call)
Gurney's Sugarbird (Promerops gurneyi) [XC320587]
by Dawie de Swardt from Grahamstown, Western District, Eastern Cape, South Africa (call)
Subspecies
Forms a superspecies with Cape Sugarbird (Promerops cafer). There is some evidence of former hybridization between the two in Eastern Cape. Subspecies separated geographically, and perhaps ecologically isolated. Further research is required.
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:
ardens Friedmann, 1952 - Eastern highlands of Zimbabwe and adjacent western Mozambique (Chimanimani Mts).
gurneyi Verreaux, 1871 - Northern and eastern South Africa from Limpopo Province (isolated populations) southern along Drakensberg escarpment.