Arabian Sunbird Cinnyris hellmayri Scientific name definitions

Previously considered conspecific with the Abyssinian Sunbird (Cinnyris habessinicus) under the name "Shining Sunbird," the Arabian Sunbird is a medium-sized sunbird with a relatively long, decurved bill. Despite its English name, the Arabian Sunbird is not found throughout or even in most of the Arabian Peninsula; its range extends from Hijaz in western Saudi Arabia south through Yemen, and east to Dhofar in southwest Oman. It inhabits relatively luxuriant vegetation in steep-sided wadis or on hillsides, as well as parks, gardens, and dry savanna scrub up to 2,300 m, but it is entirely absent from open-desert vegetation. Males have golden-green upperparts, largely dark wings and underparts, a variably broad red breast-band, and (often-concealed) yellow pectoral tufts. In contrast, females are generally dark sooty gray overall, becoming marginally paler on the underparts.