Ludwig's Double-collared Sunbird
Cinnyris ludovicensis
The Ludwig's Double-collared Sunbird (Cinnyris ludovicensis) is a legendary spiderhunters and sunbird found in 3 countries, weighing about 9 g. Ludwig's double-collared sunbird or the montane double-collared sunbird, is a small passerine bird which breeds in forested mountains above 1,800 m (5,900 ft) in western Angola as well as the Nyika Plateau of northern Malawi and northeastern Zambia.



About the Ludwig's Double-collared Sunbird
Ludwig's double-collared sunbird or the montane double-collared sunbird, is a small passerine bird which breeds in forested mountains above 1,800 m (5,900 ft) in western Angola as well as the Nyika Plateau of northern Malawi and northeastern Zambia. This bird is sometimes considered to be con-specific with the greater double-collared sunbird. It is sometimes placed in the genus Nectarinia.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The sunbird is a medium-size species. The adult male has a glossy, metallic green head, throat upper breast and back with a golden sheen. The upper-tail coverts are metallic blue and the tail black glossed with blue. The throat and upper breast are metallic green, the lower breast scarlet and the rest of the underparts are dark olive. When displaying, yellow feather tufts are visible on the shoulders. As with other sunbirds the bill is long and decurved. The eye is dark brown while the beak, legs and feet are black. The adult female has dark greyish-brown upper parts and a blackish-brown tail.
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, April, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in September. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Ludwig's Double-collared Sunbird?
- The sunbird is a medium-size species. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Ludwig's Double-collared Sunbird?
- The Ludwig's Double-collared Sunbird is a tiny sized bird weighing about 9 g.
- Where can you see a Ludwig's Double-collared Sunbird?
- The Ludwig's Double-collared Sunbird occurs in 3 countries, including Angola, Malawi and Zambia.
- What birds look similar to a Ludwig's Double-collared Sunbird?
- The Ludwig's Double-collared Sunbird is most easily confused with the Shelley's Sunbird, the Forest Double-collared Sunbird and the Mayotte Sunbird.
Learn the Ludwig's Double-collared Sunbird for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
Play BeakBrainEvery photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.