Author: Craig, A.J.F.K. & Lloyd, P.
Title: Annals of the Cape Provincial Museums. Volume 18. Part 6. Morphometrics, Moult and Taxonomy of the Nectarinia Afra/Necterinia Chalybea Complex of South Africa Double-Collared Sunbirds.
Description: Cape Provincial Museum, Albany Museum, Grahamstown, Natural History. Volume 18. Part 6. 28th July 1989. Stapled wraps, p135-p150. illustrated, 184mm wide x 240mm high. New unread copy. Five morphological characters were measured on museum specimens of two closely related double-collared sunbird species, Nectarina afra (Linnaeus) and Nectarina chalybea (Linnaeus), and their wing-moult was examined. The mensural data were analysed and compared statistically to assess the validity of the races currently recognised for each species. We conclude that the races Nectarina c. albilateralis Winterbottom and N. c. capricornensis (Roberts) are not seperable, and that the racesN. c. chalybea (L.), N. c. subalaris (Reichenow), N. a. afra (L.) and N. a. saliens Clancy are based on rather arbitrary grounds. Moult data support the recognition of two races in the case of N. chalybea, but not for N. afra. Clinal variation in size occurs in both species, but it is not the same in each species, not the same for all characters. Further field study of habitat preferences, seasonal movements, and possible physiological differences is needed.

Keywords: albany museum grahamstown eastern cape cape provincial museum south southern africa african ornithology nectarina afra chalybea birds


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