Beautiful Sunbird

The Beautiful Sunbird is a medium-sized, slender Nectariniids with a curved long bill. Adding the size of the long tail feathers of the male reproductive, we are rather on a larger sunbird. Indeed, the projections can reach up to 6 cm. The dimorphism is once again very much marked as is the case in almost all of this family. In nuptial plumage, the male has a head, upper parts, upper wings and a iridescent metallic green rump. Each specimen can appear lighter or darker depending on the iridescence of the feathers, which is due to the fine air bubbles trapped in the keratin of the feathers. The size of these bubbles modifies the color of the feathers according to the light. The feathers of the chin, throat and upper chest form small scales and are metallic green with more or less, or even strongly, golden reflections depending on the regions. In the southeastern part of its range, the throat may appear black. Sometimes a thin horizontal blue-turquoise or dark blue line forming a collar separates the throat from the chest. This detail is again variable depending on the region. A central and vertical scarlet red spot in the middle of the chest stands out strongly against the two yellow sides. The abdomen is shiny metallic green in most of its range but is black in the southeast. The flanks and under-tails are metallic blue. The tail is black-blue to dark brown, narrow metallic green fringes are visible on the inner rectrices, they are wider on the two central rectrices. The iris is dark brown, the bill and legs are black. The male's eclipse plumage is similar to the female's, it is gray-brown on the top and dull yellow on the bottom, while the feathers of the wings and tail are black.Central tail-covert feathers are often retained in this non-breeding plumage. The chin, throat, coverts, some of the rump feathers and upper tail-coverts are metallic green. In some males the chin and throat feathers are dropped during this time, revealing a pale patch on the throat. The female plumage is not iridescent. The upper crown to the rump is clear brown-gray tinged with dull yellowish. The remiges and greater coverts are dark brown with pale yellowish-olive edges. The tail is dark brown slightly lustrous with greenish-bronze or bluish. The tail feathers are narrowly edged with white, edges that become wider on the two outer feathers. The lores are dark brown and a white or pale yellow eyebrow extending behind the eye contrasts with the upper parts. The underparts from the chin to the undertail-coverts are yellow with variable and indistinct blackish-brown mottling on the breast and flanks. The juvenile male resembles the female with a wide black vertical band visible from the chin to the top of the chest. Two large yellowish-white mustaches descend from both sides of the throat to the shoulders.