Reichenbach's Sunbird

Description:

This sunbird, of some 13cm in length and relatively short curved bill, sports an olive brown mantle, an iridescent blue-green face, neck and breast; whitish belly and yellow vent. Sexes are alike, juvenile more drab olive -yellow bellow, and olive-brown above.

Habitat:

Here observed in periphery of Kinshasa, in a nature lovers outing place on edges of forest, and completed with a series of small lakes. It is locally common bird, recorded in coastal areas of west and central Africa, and in riverine forests of central Africa.

Notes:

The place where I first observed the Reichenbach's was called "Symphonies Naturelles" or "Zamba ya Nda-Ngye" - the later simply meaning 'Nda-Ngye's forest'... It is actually a private land of some 50 Ha, mainly forest, plus about 15 water sources; which M Nda-Ngye tries to protect from developers. I was lucky enough to visit it couple of times in 2013; but if this place still exists and still resists developers, it is worth visiting for its richness in animal and plant wildlife.