Variable Sunbird (Cinnyris venustus)

As its name implies, Variable Sunbird Cinnyris venustus looks very different in different parts of Africa. At high elevations in the Albertine Rift the breast is bright orange; in northeast Africa the underparts are white. Sunbirds are often said to be the Old World equivalent of hummingbirds, which live only in the Americas. Both consume nectar (and tend to have long, thin bills for this purpose) and both often have iridescent feathers on the head and throat. Unlike hummingbirds, however, sunbirds are not able to hover.

Photo © Federico Pardo / The Field Museum