THE



Avicultural Magazine


THE JOURNAL OF THE

AVICULTURAL SOCIETY



Fifth Series .—VoL III.—No. 4 —All rights reserved. APRIL, 1938.



THE BUFF-THROATED SUNBIRD


(Chalcomitra adelberti)


By C. S. Webb


The Buff-throated Sunbird ( Chalcomitra adelberti) is easily

distinguished from other Sunbirds by its somewhat unusual markings,

the underside being chestnut and the throat buff bordered by black,

and the chin black. The forehead is metallic green.


This species has a somewhat limited range being found only in

the forests of West Africa from Liberia to Nigeria.


The subject of the accompanying plate was caught in the Ashanti

district of the Gold Coast. In company with Superb Sunbirds ( Cinnyris

superbus), Olive-bellied Sunbirds (C. chloropygius ), Olive Sunbirds

(Cyanomitra verticalis), and two or three species of Anthreptes, as well

as numbers of Bulbuls ( Pycnonotus barbatus), Buff-throated Sunbirds

congregate in the tall bombax trees, gaining sustenance from the

large scarlet flowers, which are such an irresistible attraction to all

nectar-feeding birds. During the months of January and February—

the period of efflorescence of the bombax trees in Ashanti—Buff-

throated Sunbirds could be seen frequently, but in March they seemed

to disappear completely, whereas most of the other Sunbirds remained

to feed on the flowers of bananas and paw-paws, etc. It is quite likely

that the former migrated to another district where the bombax were

.flowering later.



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