Vocal mimicry by sunbirds and the first record of mimicry by Dusky Sunbird Cinnyris fuscus

Abstract

Vocal mimicry is rarely observed among members of the Nectariniidae (sunbirds), with the only African species known to do so regularly being Socotra Sunbird Chalcomitra balfouri. Here I document and describe for the first time vocal mimicry by Dusky Sunbird Cinnyris fuscus, with the aid of audiospectrograms. In west-central Namibia, singing male Dusky Sunbirds were recorded to include in their songs mimicry of at least 13 other bird species.