Anthreptes

Abstract: SUMMARY Nectar-feeding of birds was recorded during a phenological study of the woody vegetation at Zaria in the Northern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria. Throughout the dry season when it is in a non-breeding state, the Scarlet-breasted Sunbird Nectarinia senegalensis concentrates on the ornithophilous plants which flower in an overlapping sequence, and exploits the smaller-flowered species less frequently. As the flowering of the ornithophilous species decreases at the end of the dry season, the range of other plants exploited increases but, in the early rains as the flowering of the indigenous plants tails off, the sunbird switches to ornamental exotics and the indigenous, shrubby parasite, Tapinanthus globiferus. The bird is more conspicuously insectivorous during the wet season when it breeds. The Pygmy Sunbird Anthreptes platura is a breeding, dry-season visitor which exploits a somewhat different range of small-flowered, mainly entomophilous species and some exotics but also takes nectar from those ornithophilous species it can exploit, as well as the chiropterophilous Parkia clappertoniana. The bulk of the breeding population leaves the district before the flowering of the indigenous plant tails off. The five other species of sunbird recorded in the district are either very rare residents or more numerous wet-season visitors and passage migrants for which records of nectar-feeding are too few to draw conclusions about seasonal changes but the wet-season visitors appear to rely on the garden exotics in the comparative absence of flowering indigenous plants. Nectar-feeding on Bombax costatum and Parkia clappertoniana, where nectar is readily accessible and present in relatively large quantities, was noted for IS species of non-nectariniid birds, some of which were regular visitors. Some examples of flower consumption probably related to nectar-feeding are also mentioned.

Abstract: SUMMARY The thermoregulation of Nectarinia tacazze, N. famosa, N. mediocris and Anthreptes collaris was studied at three localities in the Cherangani mountains, Kenya. Most of the experiments were conducted at an altitude of 3,350 m. These sunbirds were found to have a diel temperature rhythm with ranges of 5o-17oC, an adaptation for survival in the severe temperature regimes characteristic of high altitudes in Africa. The only other passerine birds in which regular temperature changes of this magnitude have been recorded are three members of the Hirundinidae. For Zosterops senegalensis and male N. mediocris a significant difference was found between the weights of birds caught at 2,690 m and those from 3,350 m.

Abstract: Summary. We report the preliminary observations and results of a survey of the birds of the East Usambara Mountains, north-east Tanzania. Using standardised point counts and opportunistic searches, we collected information on the distribution, habitat selection and relative abundance of those species of greatest conservation concern. Amongst the 124 species recorded during the survey, six are listed in the global Red Data book and nine are considered to be restricted-range. Forest edges and agricultural habitats had notable numbers of species of conservation importance. Habitat requirements of the species of conservation concern differed: whilst ground-foragers (Usambara Thrush Turdus (olivaceus) roehli, Modulatrix spp.) are clearly dependent on intact forest, Banded Sunbird Anthreptes rubritorques, Amani Sunbird Hedydipna pallidigastra, Fischer’s Turaco Tauraco fischeri, Kenrick’s Starling Poeoptera kenricki and Long-billed Tailorbird Artisornis moreaui are also frequent in successional habitats created by disturbance, at forest edges or even in relatively open, agricultural landscapes. This suggests that some threatened species might benefit from conservation initiatives (e.g., planting of useful indigenous trees) specifically targeted to counter the degradation of such ‘fringe’ habitats.

Abstract: Ornithological surveys were conducted in Tanzanian submontane forest at Nilo Forest Reserve in the East Usambaras and Nguu North Forest Reserve in the Nguu Mountains in July-September 1995. Information on the ecology of poorly known bird species of conservation interest was collected and combined with previously published information to assess their conservation status. Sixteen species of conservation interest were recorded during fieldwork, including five Vulnerable (Usambara Eagle Owl Bubo vosseleri , East Coast Akalat Sheppardia gunningi , Amani Sunbird Anthreptes pallidigaster , Banded Green Sunbird Anthreptes rubritorques and Usambara Weaver Ploceus nicolli ); three Near-threatened (Southern Banded Snake Eagle Circaetus fasciolatus , Fischer's Turaco Tauraco fischeri and Moreau's Sunbird Nectarinia moreaui ); one regionally Endangered (Southern Hyliota Hyliota australis ); one regionally Vulnerable (Uluguru Violet-backed Sunbird Anthreptes neglectus ), two regionally Near-threatened (Lemon Dove Aplopelia lavata and Evergreen Forest Warbler Bradypterus barratti ); and 10 in total as restricted-range species (Fischer's Turaco, Usambara Eagle Owl, Sharpe's Akalat Sheppardia sharpei , Red-capped Forest Warbler Orthotomus metopias , Spot-throat Modulatrix stictigula , Amani Sunbird, Banded Green Sunbird, Moreau's Sunbird, Kenrick's Starling Poeoptera kenricki and Usambara Weaver). New information on the ecology of these species is presented in this paper. It is recommended that the conservation status of East Coast Akalat and Uluguru Violet-backed Sunbird be changed to globally Near-threatened and regionally Near-threatened, respectively. Should further work confirm that the Usambara race of Southern Hyliota deserves specific status it is strongly recommended that it be considered globally Endangered. All other species recorded should retain their current status and continue to be monitored. The Nguus represented a new locality for several species. Sharpe's Akalat, Spot-throat, Red-Capped Forest Warbler, otherwise widely distributed throughout the east Tanzania, were absent from the Nguus.