Suimanga Gigante Dreptes thomensis

An enormous, striking blue-black sunbird with a scythe-shaped beak, red-brown eyes, a white-tipped tail and yellow-buff flanks, making it unmistakable. Female and juvenile are smaller than male. An uncommon endemic resident in lowland and primary forest below 2000 meters across São Tomé, preferring the middle levels and canopy. Found in pairs and small groups, probing bark like a creeper. Song is an uncomplicated high-pitched wheezy “tseeeuw-tsit-zlik.” Lekking males give a “tik-tik-tik” call that is not very sunbird-like.