About Cinnyris cupreus (Shaw, 1812)
The copper sunbird (scientific name Cinnyris cupreus (Shaw, 1812)) is an adult species where males measure roughly 12.5 cm (5 inches) in length. Two subspecies are recognized: the nominate C. c. cupreus, which occupies the western portion of the species' range, and C. c. chalceus, which occupies the eastern half. Males of both subspecies weigh between 7.5 and 11 g (0.26 to 0.39 oz), while females of both subspecies weigh between 7.3 and 10.2 g (0.26 to 0.36 oz). The range of C. c. cupreus extends from Senegal east to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Ethiopia, western Kenya, and western Tanzania. C. c. chalceus ranges from Angola east to southeast Democratic Republic of the Congo, west Zambia, Malawi, and Zimbabwe. This non-migratory, resident bird is found across its entire range in the following African countries: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its primary habitat is savanna, but it also occurs in degraded forest, woodland, marshes, mangroves, coastal thickets, and agricultural land. The copper sunbird feeds by sipping nectar from selected flowers. Favourite plant species it feeds from include Calliandra spp., Leonotis leonurus, Syzygium spp., and Senegalia polyacantha. It also consumes fruits, spiders, and insects; some insects are caught while in flight.
