Sunbirds (Nectariniidae)

Long-billed Green Sunbird (Cinnyris notatus) - HBW 13, p. 302

French: Souimanga angaladian German: Stahlnektarvogel Spanish: Suimanga Piquilargo
Other common names: Madagascar (Green) Sunbird, Violet-breasted/Violet-green/Noted Sunbird

Taxonomy: Certhia notatus Statius Müller, 1776, Madagascar.
Genus often subsumed in Nectarinia. No obvious close relative, but has been thought perhaps to form a superspecies with C. pembae. Recent mitochondrial DNA studies indicate that it is close to C. erythrocercus, Chalcomitra adelberti, Chalcomitra senegalensis and Nectarinia kilimensis; these results furthermore point to an African origin via the Comoro Is, colonists spreading from there to Madagascar. Proposed race nesophilus (from Grand Comoro) is treated as a synonym of moebii. Three subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution: