Nile Valley Sunbird

In February, the male Nle Valley Sunbird assumes his nuptial plumage which he displays in flamboyant fashion. In winter both sexes look alike, tiny, only 9 to 10 cm long, pale grey above and washed-out yellow below, with a long, slender and slightly down-curved bill.

The Nile Valley Sunbird is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

The Nile Valley Sunbird (Anthreptes metallicus) is a species of bird in the Nectariniidae family. It is found in Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. References - * BirdLife International 2004. Anthreptes metallicus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 25 July 2007. In February, the male Nle Valley Sunbird assumes his nuptial plumage which he displays in flamboyant fashion. More

southern Africa and the Nile Valley sunbird (Hedydipna metallica) of northeast Africa and Arabia are found in semidesert habitats. The altitudinal range of sunbirds is extensive, ranging from sea level to at least 14,700 ft (4,500 m) in Afro-alpine moorlands, where the scarlet-tufted malachite sunbird (Nectarinia johnstoni) occurs. Sunbirds require food sources of nectar from flowers and insects in their habitats, and plant material, usually grass, with which to make their nests. More

For the purposes of our bird news services, Nile Valley Sunbird is classed as ungraded: species which are unlikely to appear as wild birds in Britain or Ireland (Note that rarity levels are currently applied nationally and may not reflect local variations in abundance. More

A brief glimpse of a male Nile Valley Sunbird was obtained, just before the Nile Bridge. At the car park for the temple (behind you, as you look at the temple) a small excavation held a nesting pair of Little Green Bee-eaters (more were seen as the coach passed Howard Carter's house later that morning) and a few African Rock Martins were easily seen around the temple itself. There were no birds at all in the Valley of the Kings (no lizards, no insects, no plants either). More

Senegal Coucal, and Nile Valley Sunbird reach the northern limit of their range here. In fact two dozen species difficult to see elsewhere in the Western Palearctic are concentrated in this region while the many migrant birds en route from Africa to Eurasia which pass through at this time of year add an extra dimension to the birdwatching. We'll visit the major archaeological sites and Egypt's best areas for birds, including the amazing Sinai Peninsula and St. More

There were Nile Valley Sunbirds in Bougainvillea by the road-side just over the bridge plus our first Southern Grey Shrike and a roadside Nile Monitor Lizard. A quick stop at the Collossi of Memnon produced Masked Shrike, Zitting Cisticola, Meadow Pipit and a group of Short-toed Larks in a dusty ploughed field. The rough desert around the alabaster workshops held 2 Desert Lark, whilst the Valley of the Kings had showy Trumpeter Finches, a Blue Rock-thrush, several African Rock Martins and 2 Brown-necked Raven. More

I just had to show someone a male Nile Valley sunbird I had spotted in a flowering bush and collared a couple sitting on a bench. Happily they were as excited as I was and raved about the stunner (they have bright-yellow underparts, iridescent dark-blue backs and a long, spiky tail). ‘We watch birds at home in Yorkshire but I’ve never seen one of those,’ my female victim said. More