Common Scimitarbill
NameCommon Scimitarbill
Common NameCommon Scimitarbill
Scientific NameRhinopomastus cyanomelas
FamilyPhoeniculidae
Wingspan (cm)30
Length (cm)28
Weight (g)40
Plumage DetailsThe entire plumage is a glossy, iridescent blue-black to purple-black, appearing dark and shimmering in good light. The long, slender tail is also dark. The bill is entirely black, long, thin, and strongly decurved. Legs and feet are black.
Vocalization / CallIts vocalizations include a series of high-pitched, piping or whistling notes, often described as a rapid 'pee-pee-pee-pee' or 'kik-kik-kik-kik' sound.
Primary Dietinsectivore
Primary Habitatsforest, grassland, urban
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeWidespread across sub-Saharan Africa, found from Angola and Namibia east through Botswana, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, extending north into parts of East Africa.
Identifying FeaturesLong, strongly decurved black bill, Entirely glossy iridescent blue-black plumage, Long tail, Arboreal foraging behavior on tree bark
Description
The Common Scimitarbill is a slender, medium-sized bird characterized by its glossy, iridescent blue-black plumage and a distinctive long, thin, decurved black bill. It typically forages on tree trunks and branches, probing for insects in bark crevices.
