Gurney's sugarbird

Promerops gurneyi

Photo by Alan Manson (Wikipedia)

Common name:
Gurney's sugarbird (en); papa-açúcar-de-Gurney (pt); promérops de Gurney (fr); mielero-abejaruco de Gurney (es); Natalhonigfresser (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Promeropidae

Range:
This species is patchily distributed in south-eastern Africa, with populations along the border between Zimbabwe and Mozambique and in north-eastern and eastern South Africa, including Lesotho.

Size:
These birds are 23-29 cm long and weigh 23-46,5 g.

Habitat:
The Gurney's sugarbird in mountain scrublands and grasslands dominated by Aloe, Protea and Strelitzia, being strongly associated with the presence of silver protea Protea roupelliae. Occasionally, they also use moist tropical forests.

Diet:
They feed mainly on nectar, particularly of P. roupelliae and P. caffra, but also Greyia, Erythrina, Halleria lucida, Kniphofia, Leonotis, Leucosidia sericea, Leucospermum, Buddleja, Faurea, Watsonia, ans alien plants such as Callistemon viminalis and Eucalypus. They also hunt beetls, ants and spiders.

Breeding:
Gurney's sugarbirds can breed all year round, but with a peak in September-February coinciding with the flowering of Protea plants. The female builds the nest alone, consisting of a shallow cup made of rootlets, twigs and bark fibres, lined with grass and the brown fluff and seeds of proteas. It is typically placed in a fork, between branches or at the base of an inflorescence with branches below it, usually in silver protea P. roupelliae, but also common protea P. caffra and cultivated proteas on flower farms. There she lays 1-2 eggs which she incubates alone for 16-28 days. The chicks are mainly fed insects, by both parents, and fledge 19-23 days after hatching. They only become fully independent about 20 days after fledging.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large but patchy 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.

Cape sugarbird

Promerops cafer

Photo by Tadeusz Stawarczyk (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
Cape sugarbird (en); papa-açucar-do-Cabo (pt); promérops du Cap (fr); mielero-abejaruco de El Cabo (es); Kaphonigfresser (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Promeropidae


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


Size:
The males are 34-44 cm long, while the shorter-tailed and shorter-billed females are 25-29 cm long. They weigh 30-40 g.


Habitat:
They are mostly found in the dry scrublands that form the fynbos biome, and are highly dependent on Protea plants for both food and nesting sites. They may also be found in rural gardens and even within urban areas.


Diet:
Cape sugarbirds mostly feed on the nectar of Protea, Leucospermum and Mimetes, but can also consume the nectar of other plants including introduced Eucalyptus. They also eat various arthropods including beetles, flies, wasps, ants, aphids, grasshoppers, butterflies and caterpillars, lacewings and spiders.


Breeding:
These birds are monogamous and breed in March-August. The female builds the nest, a cup made of leaves, dry grasses and stems, lined with grass and brown fluff from Protea flowers. The nest is placed in the foliage of a bush, especially Protea. There the female lays 1-2 eggs which she incubates alone for 12-20 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 18 days after hatching, but only become fully independent 3 weeks later.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least concern)
This species has a relatively large breeding range and is described as common in areas of suitable habitat. The population is believed to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats, but the invasion by alien plants such as rooikrans Acacia cyclops and decreases in nest site availability due to frequent fires in fynbos may have a negative impact on this species.