Copper Sunbird

Overview

The Copper Sunbird is found across a broad swath of sub-Saharan Africa, from savanna woodland to forest edges and gardens. Males appear nearly black in poor light but reveal rich coppery-purple and bronze-green iridescence when sunlight catches their feathers directly. Females are plain and yellow-bellied, making the sexes easy to tell apart.

• Family: sunbirds (Nectariniidae)
• Diet: nectar and small insects
• Range: sub-Saharan Africa, widely distributed

Feather Identification

• Overall color: male body feathers appear blackish in shade but flash coppery-purple, bronze, and green iridescence in direct light.
• Head: crown and throat show the strongest metallic sheen, often with a purplish cast.
• Underparts: belly feathers in males are dark, without the yellow seen in females.
• Flight feathers: wings and tail are dull blackish-brown, non-iridescent.
• Vs. similar species: the overall dark, coppery iridescent male plumage without a contrasting bright chest band helps separate it from double-collared sunbirds.

Plumage Notes

Adult males show glossy dark coppery-purple to bronze-green plumage year-round, brightest when feathers are fresh after molt. Females are olive-brown above and pale yellow below, entirely lacking iridescence. Juveniles resemble females until males molt into full adult coloration.

Habitat & Range

The Copper Sunbird occupies savanna woodland, forest edge, riverine growth, and gardens across a wide range of sub-Saharan Africa, from West Africa through the Congo Basin to parts of East Africa. It is largely resident with some local seasonal movements tied to flowering.

Behavior

This sunbird feeds on nectar from a variety of flowering trees and shrubs, supplementing its diet with small insects and spiders. It builds a small pouch nest suspended from a branch. The song is a simple, high-pitched warbling, and calls include sharp chips given during feeding disputes.