Sunbirds (Nectariniidae)

Carmelite Sunbird (Chalcomitra fuliginosa) - HBW 13, p. 263

French: Souimanga carmélite German: Karmelglanzköpfchen Spanish: Suimanga Carmelita

Taxonomy: C[erthia] fuliginosa Shaw, 1811, Malembo, Cabinda, Angola.
Genus previously merged with Nectarinia. Forms a group with C. rubescens and C. amethystina; sometimes thought to form a superspecies with those, despite considerable geographical overlap, but all appear to hybridize occasionally in areas where they meet. Proposed races nigrescens (described from Brazzaville, in PRCongo), males of which have supposedly darker mantle, is treated as a synonym of nominate, but some authors have recommended its recognition for populations along lower R Congo. Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution: