Bronze Sunbird

Nectarinia kilimensis

Other Names

    Souimanga bronzé   Bronzenektarvogel     Bronssolfågel     Nettarinia bronzea

World: Africa - in the eastern highlands from Uganda, Kenya, through Tanzania to Zaire, Malawi and Mozambique.

Kenya: Highland gardens, forest edges and wooded habitats mostly W of 38°E and S of 4°N.

A large and distinctive sunbird with elongated central tail feathers which looks black from a distance. Close up it shows bronze refelctions on the head and back as well as some copper colouring elsewhere. This species mates for life and is generally seen in pairs. Its food is primarily nectar (taken both in hovering flight but also when perched) it also hawks for insects and picks them from leaf surfaces. Its range overlaps with the very similar Tacazze Sunbird and the 2 species can be confused at a distance or in poor light. However the Bronze Sunbird lacks the Tacazze purple reflections on the back and wing coverts.