Amethyst Sunbird

The Amethyst Sunbird, sometimes called the Black Sunbird, is a fairly large, striking sunbird of eastern and southern Africa. In dull light the male appears essentially black overall, but in direct sunlight brilliant iridescent purple and green patches flare on the crown, throat, and shoulders.

Appearance

Males are sooty black with an iridescent violet-purple crown and throat patch and a green or purplish shoulder patch (lesser coverts), the colors only becoming visible at certain angles to light. Females are much duller: dark brownish-grey above with heavy dusky mottling or streaking on a paler underside, lacking any iridescence.

Key field marks

• Fairly large sunbird that looks all-black until light catches its head, revealing amethyst-purple iridescence
• Male: black body, glittering purple crown and throat, small colored shoulder patch
• Female: dark brown-grey above, heavily streaked or mottled buffy underparts
• Deep, slightly decurved bill typical of larger sunbirds

Similar species

Other all-dark sunbirds in the region, such as the Scarlet-chested Sunbird, show obvious red or scarlet patches rather than purple, and male Amethyst Sunbirds lack any red. Female Amethyst Sunbirds are heavily mottled below, more so than the plainer females of many other species, which helps separate them from similar dull-plumaged sunbirds sharing the same habitat.

Habitat

This species uses a broad range of wooded habitats, including savanna woodland, forest edge, coastal bush, and well-planted gardens, often visiting flowering aloes, coral trees, and other nectar-rich blooms.

Range

It is widespread across eastern and southern Africa, from Kenya and Tanzania south through Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and much of South Africa.

Migration

Generally resident, though individuals may move locally to track seasonal flowering, particularly of aloes in winter in southern Africa.

Behavior

Amethyst Sunbirds are bold and often solitary or territorial at flowering trees, aggressively chasing off other nectar feeders including other sunbirds. Males often perch prominently while singing, making the flash of iridescent color especially noticeable.

Voice

The song is a fast, scratchy warble mixed with clear whistled notes; the common call is a loud, sharp "chip" or "tzik."

Feeding

Nectar from a wide variety of flowering trees and shrubs forms the core diet, supplemented with insects taken by gleaning or short aerial sallies, especially important protein for breeding birds.

Nesting

The nest is a bulky, oval, hanging structure of grass, bark strips, and spider web with a side entrance and often a small overhanging porch, built by the female and suspended from a low branch or shrub. Clutches usually contain one to two eggs, incubated by the female.