Amethyst Sunbird

May 29, 2012
Another sunbird this week: Amethyst Sunbird, Chalcomitra amethystina. Historically, most species of sunbirds were placed in the genus Nectarinia, which made it a really large genus. Based on detailed genetic and morphological work, we now know that all things Nectarinia are not each other’s closest relatives. Amethyst Sunbird has a very large geographic range in Africa.

This photo was taken during a Field Museum expedition to Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique, which will be the subject of a forthcoming film. Watch the trailer.
 

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(c) The Field Museum, Division of Birds, photo by Federico Pardo