Variable sunbird

Nectarinia venustus

Photo by Jim Watt (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
variable sunbird (en); beija-flor-de-barriga-amarela (pt); souimanga à ventre jaune (fr); suimanga variable (es); ziernektarvogel (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Nectariniidae

Range:
This species is patchily distributed across sub-Saharan Africa, with subspecies N.v. venustus being found from Senegal east to northern Cameroon and western Central African Republic, while the remaining for subspecies occur from southern Sudan and Eritrea, south to Tanzania, and through southern D.R. Congo and Zambia, into Angola, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

Size:
These birds are 10-11 cm long and weigh 5-10 g.

Habitat:
The variable sunbird is mostly found in dry savannas and dry scrubands, but alsouse a wide range of other habitats such as grasslands, rainforests, mangroves, rivers and streams, and man-made habitats including pastures, arable land, plantations, rural gardens and urban areas.

Diet:
They feed mainly on nectar, but also take adult and larval insects, especially during the breeding season.

Breeding:
Variable sunbirds breed all year round, possibly with some variation among different parts of their range. The nest is built mainly by the female,  consisting of an oval-shaped structure made of fine grass stems and blades, fibres, rootlets, leaves and flower heads bound together with spider web. It is often camouflaged with large bits of material, and lined with plant down and other fine plant materials. The nest is typically placed in a tall weed or small sapling, or occasionally in a deserted building. The female lays 1-2 eggs, which she incubates alone for 14 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 12-16 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as common. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Ruby-cheeeked sunbird

Anthreptes singalensis

Photo from (OK Nation)

Common name:
ruby-cheeked sunbird (en); beija-flor-de-faces-rubi (pt); souimanga à joues rubis (fr); suimanga carirrubí (es); rubinwangen-nektarvogel (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Nectariniidae

Range:
This species is found throughout South-east Asia, from north-eastern India and southern China, through Indochina and into the Indonesian islands of Java, Sumatra and Borneo.

Size:
These birds are 10-11 cm long and weigh 8-9 g.

Habitat:
The ruby-cheeked sunbird is found in moist tropical forest and mangroves, including forest edges and second growths, as well as moist scrublands, rivers and streams, plantations and rural gardens.

Diet:
They feed on small arthropods, including caterpillars and spiders, as well as fruits, pollen and nectar.

Breeding:
These birds breed in February-August. They are monogamous and the nest is purse-shaped and made of plant fibres held together with spider webs. The nest is placed hanging beneath the leaves at the end of a branch in a scrub or small tree 1-3 m above the ground. The female lays 2 cream or pinkish eggs with purplish-grey mottles. The eggs are incubated by the female alone, but both parents feed the chicks. There is no information regarding the length of the incubation and fledging periods.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as common in Thailand, Sabah and the Indian Subcontinent, locally common in Bangladesh, very rare in Nepal, rare in Bhutan and uncommon on Sumatra. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Apricot-breasted sunbird

Cinnyris buettikoferi

Photo by Craig Robson (Bird Quest)

Common name:
apricot-breasted sunbird (en); beija-flor-de-Sumba (pt); souimanga de Sumba (fr); suimanga de Sumba (es); Sumbanektarvogel (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Nectariniidae

Range:
This species is endemic to the island of Sumba in southern Indonesia.

Size:
These birds are 10-11 cm long.

Habitat:
The apricot-breasted sunbird is found along the edges of tropical forests, in secondary forests, dry scrublands and arable land. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 950 m.

Diet:
They feed on nectar and small arthropods.

Breeding:
There is almost no available information on the reproduction of this species. They probably lay a clutch of 2 eggs which are incubated for 14-17 days.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a relatively small breeding range but is considered very common. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Crimson sunbird

Aethopyga siparaja

(Photo from Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
crimson sunbird (en); beija-flor-carmesim (pt); souïmanga siparaja (fr); suimanga siparaja (es); karmesinnektarvogel (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Nectariniidae

Range:
This species is found in south-western India, and from northern India and Nepal east to southern China and through Indochina south to Indonesia. They are also found in several islands in the central parts of the Philippines.

Size:
These birds are 11 cm long and weigh 8 g.

Habitat:
The crimson sunbird is found in various habitats including moist tropical forests, swamp forests, mangroves, moist scrublands, dry grasslands and rural gardens. they are present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.800 m.

Diet:
They feed mainly on the nectar of both native and cultivated plants. They also take some insects, particularly during the breeding season.

Breeding:
Crimson sunbirds nest in a purse-shaped structure built by both sexes with mosses and plant materials. The nest is usually suspended from the underside of large fern fronds, or thin branches of a small tree or scrub. The female lays 2-3 eggs which she mainly incubates alone for 18-19 days. The chicks fledge about 3 weeks after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as usually common although rare to uncommon on Buton island. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Olive sunbird

Nectarinia olivacea

Photo by Alan Manson (Wikipedia)

Common name:
olive sunbird (en); beija-flor-oliváceo (pt); souimanga olivâtre (fr); suimanga oliva (es); olivnektarvogel (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Nectariniidae

Range:
This species is found in sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal and Guinea, along the Gulf of Guinea nations down to Gabon and northern Angola, east through D.R. Congo into Kenya and Ethiopia, and south through Tanzania, Zambia and Mozambique, and into eastern South Africa.

Size:
These birds are 13-16 cm long and weigh 11-12 g.

Habitat:
The olive sunbird is found in dense tropical forests, mangroves, dry scrublands, banana and Eucalyptus plantations and well-wooded gardens. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 2.200 m.

Diet:
They on the nectar of a wide range of plants, as well as eating fruits, sucking fruit juices and hunting small arthropods such as termites and spiders.

Breeding:
Olive sunbirds breed in August-March. The female builds the nest alone, consisting of an elongate, pear-shaped structure made of a variety of materials, such as fine grass, twiglets, moss, lichen, leaves and Marasmius fungus bound together with spider web. It is typically attached at the roof to a branch or creeper beneath a dense canopy, or alternatively it can be put amongst roots and cavernous hollows on the ground in the forest or beside a stream, or even within a building or in a hanging basket. The female lays 1-3 eggs, which she incubates alone for 13-16 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 13-16 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is is described as common. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Spectacled spiderhunter

Arachnothera flavigaster

Photo by Henry Goh (Images of Nature)

Common name:
spectacled spiderhunter (en); papa-aranhas-de-lunetas (pt); arachnothère à lunettes (fr); arañero de anteojos (es); brillenspinnenjäger (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Nectariniidae

Range:
This species is found in south-east Asia, in Sumatra and Borneo, Malaysia and southern Thailand and Vietnam.

Size:
These birds are 21-22 cm long and weigh 38-50 g.

Habitat:
The spectacled spiderhunter is mostly found in moist tropical forests, including forests edges, also using clearings, plantations, cultivated areas and gardens.They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.800 m.

Diet:
They feed on spiders, grasshoppers and ants, as well as pollen, fruits and nectar.

Breeding:
Spectacled spiderhunters breed in February-September. They are believed to be monogamous. The nest is a round basket made of plant fibres and lined with seed pappi. It is usually attached by spider webs to the underside of a palm from or between the leaves of a rubber fig Ficus elastica, 5-10 m above the ground. The female lays 2 pale grey or greenish eggs with dark markings, which are incubated by both parents for 13-15 days. The chicks fledge 14-19 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status -LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is reported to be frequent to uncommon. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction.

Green-headed sunbird

Nectarinia verticalis

Photo by Dave Curtis (Flickr)

Common name:
green-headed sunbird (en); beija-flor-de-cabeça-verde (pt); souimanga à tête verte (fr); suimanga cabeciverde (es); grünkopf-nektarvogel (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Nectariniidae

Range:
This species is found in West Africa, from Senegal to South Sudan and Kenya, and south to northern Angola, southern D.R. Congo and Zambia.

Size:
These birds are 13-15 cm long and weigh 10-16 g.

Habitat:
The green-headed sunbird is mostly found in dry savannas, but also in dry grasslands and scrublands, in mangroves, in rainforests, along rivers and streams, in plantations, arable land and rural gardens.

Diet:
They feed on small fruits and nectar.

Breeding:
The female lays 2 eggs, which are incubated for 13-15 days. There is no information regarding the fledgling period.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as common. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

White-belied sunbird

Cinnyris talatala

Photo by Aivar Mikko (Trek Nature)

Common name:
white-belied sunbird (en); beija-flor-de-barriga-branca (pt); souïmanga à ventre blanc (fr); suimanga de pecho blanco (es); weißbauch-nektarvogel (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Nectariniidae

Range:
This species is found in southern Africa, from southern Angola, Zambia and southern Tanzania, south to north-eastern South Africa.

Size:
These birds are 11 cm long and weigh 7,5 g.

Habitat:
The white-belied sunbird is mostly found in dry savannas, especially Acacia, bushwillow Combretum, Zambezi teak Baikiaea plurijuga and mixed miombo Brachystegia woodlands. They are also found in rural gardens and within urban areas.

Diet:
They feed on the nectar of a wide range of flowering plants, which is sometimes supplemented with insects, such as aphids, ants, grasshoppers and moths, and spiders.

Breeding:
White-belied sunbirds breed in June-March, with a peak in September-December. The female builds the nest alone, an untidy oval-shaped structure made of dry material such as grass and leaves, bound together with spider web. The nest is decorated with bits of leaves and bark, and lined with plant down, feathers and wool. It is attached to the branches of a thorny plant. The female lays 1-3 eggs, which she incubates alone for 13-14 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 14-15 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status -  LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as abundant. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats. In fact, it seems to have benefited from the fragmentation and disturbance of miombo woodlands.

Elegant sunbird

Aethopyga duycenbodei

Photo by Mark Thibault (Oriental Bird Images)

Common name:
elegant sunbird (en); beija-flor-elegante (pt); souimanga des Sangi (fr); suimanga elegante (es); Sangihenektarvogel (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Nectariniidae

Range:
At present, the elegant sunbird in endemic to the Indonesian island of Sangihe, located north of Sulawesi, but there are historical records of this species on the nearby island of Siau.

Size:
These birds are 12 cm long.

Habitat:
The elegant sunbird is found in primary rainforests, forests edges, and in adjacent moist scrublands and plantations. They are present at altitudes of 75-1.000 m.

Diet:
They feed on the nectar of various plants, including coconuts, but will also take small invertebrates, sometimes being seen collecting insects caught in spider webs.

Breeding:
Elegant sunbirds probably have two mating season, one starting in May and another in November. The clutch size is 2 eggs which are incubated for 14-17 days, but there is no information regarding the length of the fledgling period.

Conservation:
IUCN status - EN (Endangered)
This species has a restricted breeding range and a global population estimated at just 13.000-29.000 individuals. Despite its tolerance to secondary habitats, this species is suspected to be declining at a moderate rate, mostly due to agricultural intensification and continued agricultural encroachment of the last few primary forest, especially at lower altitudes. There are some plans to protect some of the remaining areas of forest in Sangihe, which could help halt further population declines in this species.

Miombo double-collared sunbird

Cinnyris manoensis

Photo by Warwick Tarboton (Warwick Tarboton)

Common name:
miombo double-collared sunbird (en); beija-flor-do-miombo (pt); souïmanga du miombo (fr); suimanga del miombo (es); miombonektarvogel (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Nectariniidae

Range:
This African species is patchily distributed between Angola, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and northern Mozambique.

Size:
These birds are 13 cm long  and weigh around 9 g.

Habitat:
The miombo double-collared sunbird is mostly found in miombo Brachystegia sp. woodlands, but also occupies mountain habitats such as Leucospermum, Erica and Protea scrublands, well wooded gardens and Acacia savannas. They are mostly found at altitudes of 1.000-1.400 m.

Diet:
They feed on the nectar of a wide range of plants, such as mistletoes, Tecoma capensis, Leonotis sp., Gladiolus dalenii, Holmskioldia sp., Aloe sp., Kniphofia sp., Bauhinia variegata and Callistemon viminalis. They also take some insects and spiders.

Breeding:
Miombo double-collared sunbirds breed all year round. The nest is built solely by the female, consisting of a thick-walled oval-shaped structure made of forbs, shredded bark, dry leaves and fine grass, bound together with spider webs. It is typically suspended from a tree branch or occasionally beneath a house porch or building overhang. The female lays 1-3 eggs, which she incubates alone for 14-16 days. The chicks are mainly fed by the female, fledging 13-15 days after hatching. They become fully independent 1 week later.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is  is described as local and uncommon in Tanzania, locally common in Angola, common in Zimbabwe and uncommon in Zambia. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Collared sunbird

Anthreptes collaris

Photo by Sergi Aris (Flickr)

Common name:
collared sunbird (en); beija-flor-de-colar (pt); souimanga à collier (fr); suimanga acollarado (es); waldnektarvogel (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Nectariniidae

Range:
This species is found in sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal to Ethiopia and south to Angola, northern Botswana, and through Mozambique down to eastern South Africa.

Size:
These birds are 9-10 cm long and weigh 7 g.

Habitat:
The collared sunbird is mostly found in mountain, coastal and lowland evergreen forests, in swamp forests, and also in thorny savannas, scrublands and gardens near forest edges. They can also be found in plantations and near fresh water wetlands.

Diet:
They mainly feed on the nectar of a wide range of plants, and also take some fruits and invertebrates such as termites, ant pupae, spiders and snails.

Breeding:
Collared sunbirds breed all year round. The female builds the nest alone, an untidy oval-shaped structure with a side entrance, made of dry grass, rootlets, twigs, tendrils and leaves bound together with spider webs. The nest is lined with plant fibres, horse hair, rootlets and feathers and is typically strung from the outer foliage of a sapling, scrub or creeper, often near a wasp nest. The female lays 1-4 eggs, which she incubates alone for 12-14 days. The chicks are mainly fed by the female and fledge 13-17 days after hatching, but only become fully independent 3-4 weeks later.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is reported to be common to abundant throughout this range. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Scarlet-chested sunbird

Chalcomitra senegalensis

Photo by Mike Pope (World-Birds)

Common name:
scarlet-chested sunbird (en); beija-flor-de-peito-escarlate (pt); souïmanga à poitrine rouge (fr); suimanga pechiescarlata (es); rotbrust-glanzköpfchen (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Nectariniidae

Range:
This species is found in sub-Saharan Africa, from southern Mauritania and Guinea to Ethiopia and south to northern Namibia and north-eastern South Africa. The scarlet-chested sunbird is absent from the Congo river basin and from the coastal regions around the Gulf of Guinea.

Size:
These birds are 13-15 cm long and have a wingspan of 25-30 cm. They weigh 10-14 g.

Habitat:
The scarlet-chested sunbird is mostly found in dry savannas and scrublands, but also in dry grasslands, orchards and rural gardens, arable land and urban parks and gardens.

Diet:
They feed on the nectar of various flowers, namely Erythrina, Leonotis, Loranthus, Aloe, Tithonia, Schotia, Kniphofia, Crotalaria, Callistemon, Canna, Tapinanthus, Bombax, Phragmanthera and Albizia, but show some preference for large red blooms. They also eat spiders and insects such as grubs, ants, termite alates, caterpillars, crickets, leafhoppers, beetles and flies.

Breeding:
Scarlet-chested sunbirds can breed all year round, varying between different parts of their range. they are monogamous solitary nesters and the female builds the nest alone. The nest is a suspended oval or pear-shaped structure, made of grasses, dead leaves, plant down and spider webs, decorated with seeds, leaves, strings, feathers and even pieces of paper. it is suspended from the tip of a branch, 2-10 m above the ground. There the female lays 1-3 cream, greenish or pinkish eggs with darker markings, which she incubates alone for 13-15 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 15-20 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as abundant and widespread in savanna woodlands. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Mariqua sunbird

Nectarinia maquiquensis

Photo by Guillaume Emaresi (Flickr)

Common name:

Mariqua sunbird (en); beija-flor-de-Marico (pt); souïmanga de Mariqua (fr); suimanga del Marico (es); bindennektarvogel (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Nectariniidae


Range:
This species occupies two separate areas in sub-Saharan Africa. One population occurs from Eritrea to Tanzania while the other extends from Angola and south-western Zambia to northern South Africa.


Size:
This species is 10-12 cm long and weighs 11-12 g.


Habitat:
Mariqua sunbirds are mostly found in dry Acacia savannas, in rivers, streams and riparian woodlands, scrub dominated wetlands and swamp forests. They can also be found in suburban gardens.


Diet:
They feed on nectar of a wide range of plants, namely Acacia, Aloe, Bauhinia, Cadaba, Crotalaria, Erythrina, Geranium, Kigelia, Kniphofia, Leonotis, Loranthus, Peltophorum, Callistemoni, Grevillea and Jacaranda. They also glean arthropods from foliage, namely flies, moths, caterpillars, wasps, termites and spiders.


Breeding:
Mariqua sunbirds breed in July-February. the female builds the nest alone, consisting of a compact, pear-shaped structure made of dry grass and spider web, and camouflaged with bark, lumps of resin, small flowers, plant seeds, caterpillar faeces and seed capsules. It is placed in dense foliage, 2-8 m above the ground. There she lays 1-3 eggs, which she incubates alone for 13-15 days. The chicks are fed by the female until fledging, but receive food from both parents for a few weeks after fledging.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as common to locally abundant. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Souimanga sunbird

Cinnyris sovimanga

(Photo from Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
souimanga sunbird (en); beija-flor-de-Madagáscar (pt); souimanga malgache (fr); suimanga malgache (es); Malegassennektarvogel (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Nectariniidae


Range:
This species is found in Madagascar, and in the nearby archipelagos of Aldabra and Glorioso.


Size:
These birds are 10-11 cm long and have a wingspan of 13-14 cm.


Habitat:
The souimanga sunbird is found in tropical and sub-tropical forests, mangroves and scrublands, but also in gardens, parks and degraded patches of former forest. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 2.300 m.


Diet:
They mostly eat the nectar of various flowers, but will also hunt small insects and spiders.


Breeding:
Souimanga sunbirds breed in August-March. The female builds the nest, a dome-shaped structure made of grass stems, coconut fibre and leaves. It has a side entrance and is usually suspended from a branch 1-2 m above the ground. The female lays 2 whitish eggs with reddish mottles, which she incubates alone for 13-14 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 16-18 days after hatching.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a relatively large breeding range and, although the global population size has not been quantified, it is described as abundant. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Greater double-collared sunbird

Cinnyris afer

Photo by Elaine van Dyk (Red Bubble)

Common name:
greater double-collared sunbird (en); beija-flor-de-banda-larga (pt); souïmanga à plastron rouge (fr); suimanga bicollar mayor (es); großer doppelband-nektarvogel (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Nectariniidae


Range:
These birds are endemic to South Africa and Swaziland, occurring in a band from the Limpopo Province, through Mpumalanga and Swaziland, and into KwaZulu-Natal and down the coast to the Western and Eastern Cape.


Size:
These birds are 14 cm long and weigh 9-11 g.


Habitat:
They are generally found along the edges of mountain, coastal and dune forests, but also in fynbos, coastal scrubland, Acacia savanna, gardens and parks.


Diet:
These birds mainly feed on the nectar of various flowers, including Aloe, Cotyledon, Erica, Protea, Tecoma capensis, Gasteria, Hibiscus, Salvia, Plumbago, Canna, Pyrostegia venusta and cultivated pineapples. They also eat fruits and fruit juices, and some small arthropods.


Breeding:
Greater double-collared sunbirds can breed all year round, but with a peak in July-November. They are monogamous and the female builds the nest alone, an oval-shaped structure built of a variety of materials, such as dry grass, bark shreds, wool, cottony material, feathers, fur, leaves, lichen, rootlets, twiglets and string bound together with spider web. It is typically placed 2-6 metres above ground in a tree with dense foliage. The female lays 1-2 eggs, which she incubates alone for 14-16 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 13-16 days, but only become fully independent 10 days later.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least concern)
This species as a large breeding range and is described as locally common. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Orange-breasted sunbird

Anthobaphes violacea

Photo by Chris Perkins (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:

orange-breasted sunbird (en); beija-flor-de-peito-laranja (pt); souïmanga orangé (fr); suimanga pechinaranja (es); goldbrust-nektarvogel (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Nectarinidae

Range:

This species is endemic to South Africa, only being found in the fynbos biome of the Western and Eastern Cape regions.

Size:

Orange-breasted sunbirds are 12-15 cm long and weigh 9-10 g.

Habitat:

They are mostly found in fynbos habitats, generally preferring dense stands of Protea and Erica. They also occur in coastal scrublands and occasionally gardens, provided that there are enough nectar producing plants such as Aloe.

Diet:

Orange-breasted sunbirds mostly eat nectar of plants like Protea, Erica, Leonotis, Mimetes, Aloe, mountain dahlia Liparia spherica, pyjama bush Lobostemon fructicosus, cape-honeysuckle Tecoma capensis, wild lobelia Lobelia pinifolia, bugle lily Watsonia tabularis, Agapanthus and alien species like Hedera helix and Eucalyptus. They also complement their diet with invertebrates, including beetles, wasps, ants, bees, flies, crickets, locusts, grasshoppers, roaches, spiders and midges.

Breeding:

These birds breed can breed all year round, but tend to peak in April-September. They are monagomous and solitary nesters, with the nest being built solely by the female, consisting of a sturdy oval with a circular side entrance, built of dry twiglets, heather and soft plant material bound together with spider web. It is typically placed facing south or south-east, to avoid prevailing wind and rain, in a bush, scrub or tree, especially Protea and Erica. There the female lays 1-2 eggs which she incubates alone for 13-16 days. Both sexes feed the chicks which fledge 14-22 days after hatching, but continue to depend on their parents for another 3-4 weeks. Each pair may raise 2-3 broods per year.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)

This species has a relatively small breeding range, but is described as common. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction, but is not considered threatened at present.

Purple sunbird

Cinnyris asiaticus

Photo by Raghuvanshi Rajesh (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:

purple sunbird (en); beija-flor-púrpura (pt); souïmanga asiatique (fr); suimanga asiático (es); purpurnektarvogel (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Nectarinidae

Range:

This Asian species is found from the western Arabian Peninsula, through Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka, and further east to Bangladesh, Myanmar and Indochina.

Size:

They are 9-10 cm long and weigh 4-5 g.

Habitat:

The purple sunbird inhabits woodlands and bushy terrain in arid areas as well as trees and scrub near cultivated lands or gardens, tamarisk tracts along rivers, thorn shrubs and dry forests. They are found from sea level up to an altitude of 2.400 m.

Diet:

They mainly feed on the nectar and fruit juices of various plants including Acacia, Hibiscus, Prosopis, Cordia, Albizzia, Convolvulus, Aloe, Bougainvillea, Citrus, Tecoma, Calotropis, Eucalyptus, Melia and Phoenix. Small insects and spiders are also taken during the chick rearing period.

Breeding:

Purple sunbirds breed in November-April. The nest is built by the female, consisting of a pouch made of cobwebs, thin strips of vegetation, lichens and bark with an entrance hole on the side that is often shaded by a overhanging projection. There the female lays 2-3 eggs which she incubates alone for 15-17 days. The chicks are fed insects and spiders by both parents and fledge 14-18 days after hatching.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)

This species has a very large breeding range and, although the global population size has not been quantified, this species is described as common throughout most of its range, although rare and local in Bhutan. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Amethyst sunbird

Chalcomitra amethystina

Photo by Frans Swanepoel (Trek Nature)

Common name:

amethyst sunbird (en); beija-flor-preto (pt); souimanga améthyste (fr); suimanga amatista (es); amethystlangzköpfchen (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Nectarinidae

Range:

This species is found in Africa south of the equator, from Kenya and Tanzania through southern DR Congo and Zambia and into South Africa.

Size:

Amethyst sunbirds are 14-15 cm long and weigh 13-15 g.

Habitat:

This species generally favours in coastal evergreen forests and mature valley bushveld, but it may also move into drier, more open woodland. It sometimes goes out of its way to visit a large clump of nectar-bearing plants, such as Aloe.

Diet:

Amethyst subirds are mostly nectivorous, eating the nectar of many different flowers including Aloe, Strelitzia, Salvia, Cestrum, Bauhinia, Eucalyptus, Hibiscus, Protea, Eryrthrina, Knipholia, Schotia, Leonotis, Tecoma capensis, Callistemon viminalis, Greyia sutherlandii, Leucospermum, Combretum, Crotalaria capensis, Halleria lucida, Dalbergia nitidula, Cordyla africana, Faurea speciosa, Baikiaea plurijuga. They also eat flying insects and spiders.

Breeding:

They breed in September-February. The nest is built solely by the female, consisting of an oval-shaped structure built of lichen, grass, stalks and bark cemented with spider web. It is strongly attached to a drooping branch of a tree, bush or creeper usually 2-6 m above ground. The female lays 1-3 grey eggs which she incubates alone for 13-18 days. The chicks are fed mainly by the female, fledging 14-18 days after hatching and becoming independent 1 week after.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least concern)

This species has a very large breeding range and is reported to be uncommon to abundant, varying between different parts of their range. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats, and its range may have increased recently due to the spread of wooded gardens.

Malachite sunbird

Nectarinia famosa

Common name:

malachite sunbird (en); beija-flor-verde (pt); souïmanga malachite (fr); suimanga malaquita (es); malachitnektarvogel (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Nectarinidae

Range:

This African species has a discontinuous distribution across East Africa, with a separate and larger popuation in southern Africa where they occur in most of South Africa, southern Namibia, and along the border between Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

Size:

Males are larger than females due to the very long central tail feather, being 25-26 cm long while the females are 15 cm long. They weigh 15 g.

Habitat:

Malachite sunbirds occur in a variety of habitats, ranging from alpine and mountain grasslands to scrubby hillsides in mountainous areas, as well as arid steppes, riverine thornbush, gardens, parks and plantations.

Diet:

They mostly eat nectar, foraging among the flowers of different plants including Aloe, Protea, Olea, Cotyledon orbiculata, Watsonia, Disa, Kniphofia, Leonotis, Tecoma capensis, Strelitzia, Glischorocolla formosa, Melianthus villosus, Buddleja salviifolia, Greyia sutherlandia, Jacaranda mimosifolia and Nicotiana glauca. Occasionally they also take arthropods and small lizars.

Breeding:

These monogamous, solitary nesters breed in September-December. The female builds the nest alone, a teardrop-shaped construction built of dry grass and plant down bound with spider web. It is usually placed in a low bush 1-2 m above ground. There she lays 1-4 eggs, which she incubates alone for 12-14 days. The chicks are cared for mainly by the female, fledging 13-17 days after hatching, but only becoming fully independent 24 days later.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least concern)

This species has a very large breeding range and, although the global population size has not been quantified, the species is described as locally common in areas of suitable habitat. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.