Eastern Miombo Sunbird (Cinnyris manoensis) [XC339070]
by Frank Lambert from Mutinondo Wilderness area, Northern Province, Zambia (call)
Eastern Miombo Sunbird (Cinnyris manoensis) [XC634816]
by Peter Boesman from Dzalanyama Forest Reserve, Filimoni, Lilongwe, Central Region, Malawi (call, song)
Subspecies
Genus often subsumed in Nectarinia. Forms a superspecies with Southern Double-collared Sunbird (Cinnyris chalybeus), and sometimes considered conspecific. Recent work indicates that pintoi is probably best treated as a separate species. It occurs in sympatry with nominate along Muchinga Escarpment in Zambia. Apparent ecological separation in the same zone, pintoi occupying pure miombo, with nominate found more towards rocky edge habitat with aloes. Eggs and nest reported to be recognizably different from those of nominate. Also, consistent morphological differences, with no evidence of intergradation.
An as yet undescribed taxon, apparently close to present species or to subspecies whytei of Montane Double-collared Sunbird (Cinnyris ludovicensis), occurs in north-eastern Zambia and Tanzania and may belong with either of these species or represent a distinct species. Subspecies pintoi formerly referred to by name intermedius, but that name is preoccupied. Other proposed subspecies are gertrudis (described from Songea, in southern Tanzania), namwera (Mangoche Mts, in southern Malawi), zonarius (Zobué, in border region Malawi-Mozambique) and bractiatus (Fort Chiquaqua, in northern Zimbabwe), all synonymized with nominate.
The following 3 subspecies are recognised:
pintoi (Reichenow, 1907) - Central Angola, southern DRCongo, south-western Tanzania, Zambia (west of Luangwa rift) and northern Malawi (north of Ntchisi).
manoensis (Reichenow, 1907) - Central and western Tanzania (also isolated populations in north), eastern Zambia, Zimbabwe, southern Malawi (south of Ntchisi) and northern Mozambique.
amicorum (Clancey, 1970) - Mt Gorongoza, in southern Mozambique.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet