Animalia Life

Anabathmis reichenbachii
SUBFAMILY
Nectariniinae
TAXONOMY
Nectarinia reichenbachii Hartlaub, 1857.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
French: Souimanga de Reichenbach; German: Reichenbachnektarvogel; Spanish: Nectarina de Reichenbach.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
4.7–5.5 in (12–14 cm); 0.35–0.46 oz (9.8–13 g). Metallic blue from crown to breast, with grayish belly and yellow vents. Upperparts olive-brown with gray band at tail tip.
DISTRIBUTION
Liberia to Angola.
HABITAT
Coastal zones in West Africa, but penetrating far inland in central Africa range, especially in Democratic Republic of the Congo where found along sides of rivers.
BEHAVIOR
Forages in vegetation overhanging water. Also catches insects in mid-air, returning to same perch where may dally for long periods.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Takes insects and probes flowers, including mistletoes, for nectar.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Defends territories all year, singing complex, high-pitched, jangling song from prominent perch. Lays single light-brown, speckled egg in small nest made of grass, leaves, and fibers, held together by cobwebs and suspended above water.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not threatened. Common in Cameroon and Republic of the Congo but scarce elsewhere.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
None known.

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