28-3-2018 OUDTSHOORN, SOUTH AFRICA - SOUTHERN DOUBLE COLLARED SUNBIRD (Cinnyris afer)

The Southern double-collared sunbird, or lesser double-collared sunbird, Cinnyris chalybeus, is a diminutive and vibrant passerine bird endemic to southern Africa. The adult male is particularly striking with a glossy, metallic green head, throat, upper breast, and back. A brilliant red band, edged with a narrow metallic blue stripe, adorns the chest. The underparts are predominantly whitish, and during displays, yellow shoulder tufts may be revealed. Females and juveniles are more subdued in coloration, with the female sporting brown upperparts and yellowish-grey underparts.

When identifying the male Southern double-collared sunbird, look for its smaller stature, narrower red chest band, and shorter bill compared to the similar greater double-collared sunbird. The female can be distinguished from other species by her greyer underparts compared to the orange-breasted sunbird and a darker shade than that of the dusky sunbird.

This sunbird is commonly found in a variety of settings including gardens, fynbos, forests, and coastal scrub. It is a versatile resident of its southern African home.

The species is mainly resident throughout its range, with some partial migration noted in the northeastern areas. It is a familiar sight across its habitat, gracing many a garden and natural landscape with its presence.

The Southern double-collared sunbird is often observed alone or in small groups. It exhibits a fast and direct flight, utilizing its short wings adeptly. While it primarily feeds on nectar, it also consumes fruit and occasionally insects and spiders, especially when feeding its young. It is capable of hovering like a hummingbird but typically prefers to perch while feeding.

The call of this sunbird is a distinctive hard 'chee-chee', while its song is a high-pitched medley of tinkling notes that vary in pitch and tempo, lasting for several seconds.

Breeding occurs from April to December, varying by region. The species constructs a closed oval nest from grass, lichen, and other plant materials, all bound together with spider webs. The nest features a side entrance, sometimes adorned with a porch, and is lined with soft materials such as wool, plant down, and feathers.

The Southern double-collared sunbird's diet consists mainly of nectar, which it gathers from flowers. It is also known to consume fruit and, particularly when feeding offspring, will hunt for insects and spiders.

28-3-2018 OUDTSHOORN, SOUTH AFRICA - SOUTHERN DOUBLE COLLARED SUNBIRD (Cinnyris afer)

The Southern double-collared sunbird, or lesser double-collared sunbird, Cinnyris chalybeus, is a diminutive and vibrant passerine bird endemic to southern Africa. The adult male is particularly striking with a glossy, metallic green head, throat, upper breast, and back. A brilliant red band, edged with a narrow metallic blue stripe, adorns the chest. The underparts are predominantly whitish, and during displays, yellow shoulder tufts may be revealed. Females and juveniles are more subdued in coloration, with the female sporting brown upperparts and yellowish-grey underparts.

When identifying the male Southern double-collared sunbird, look for its smaller stature, narrower red chest band, and shorter bill compared to the similar greater double-collared sunbird. The female can be distinguished from other species by her greyer underparts compared to the orange-breasted sunbird and a darker shade than that of the dusky sunbird.

This sunbird is commonly found in a variety of settings including gardens, fynbos, forests, and coastal scrub. It is a versatile resident of its southern African home.

The species is mainly resident throughout its range, with some partial migration noted in the northeastern areas. It is a familiar sight across its habitat, gracing many a garden and natural landscape with its presence.

The Southern double-collared sunbird is often observed alone or in small groups. It exhibits a fast and direct flight, utilizing its short wings adeptly. While it primarily feeds on nectar, it also consumes fruit and occasionally insects and spiders, especially when feeding its young. It is capable of hovering like a hummingbird but typically prefers to perch while feeding.

The call of this sunbird is a distinctive hard 'chee-chee', while its song is a high-pitched medley of tinkling notes that vary in pitch and tempo, lasting for several seconds.

Breeding occurs from April to December, varying by region. The species constructs a closed oval nest from grass, lichen, and other plant materials, all bound together with spider webs. The nest features a side entrance, sometimes adorned with a porch, and is lined with soft materials such as wool, plant down, and feathers.

The Southern double-collared sunbird's diet consists mainly of nectar, which it gathers from flowers. It is also known to consume fruit and, particularly when feeding offspring, will hunt for insects and spiders.

The IUCN Red List categorizes the Southern double-collared sunbird as Least Concern, indicating a stable population without significant threats to its survival at present.

29-3-2018 OUDTSCHOORN, SOUTH AFRICA - SOUTHERN DOUBLE COLLARED SUNBIRD (Cinnyris afer)

The greater double-collared sunbird, Cinnyris afer, is a small and vibrant member of the sunbird family. This species exhibits a striking sexual dimorphism. The male is adorned with a glossy, metallic green head, throat, upper breast, and back. A brilliant red band, edged with a narrow metallic blue stripe, graces his chest. The rest of his underparts are a pale grey. When in display, one may observe yellow tufts on his shoulders. The female, in contrast, is clad in more subdued tones of pale grey, with darker wings. Both sexes possess a long, decurved bill, black in color, matching their legs and feet, and dark brown eyes.

To identify the greater double-collared sunbird, look for the male's broad red chest band and the distinctive blue band above it. The female is less colorful but can be recognized by her grey plumage and darker wings. The species can be distinguished from the similar lesser double-collared sunbird by the male's larger size, wider red chest band, and longer bill.

The greater double-collared sunbird is commonly found in gardens, fynbos, forest edges, and coastal scrub across southern South Africa.

This sunbird is mainly resident but partly migratory in the northeastern parts of its range within southern South Africa.

The greater double-collared sunbird is typically observed alone or in pairs. It exhibits a fast and direct flight on its short wings.

The call of this sunbird is a hard "chut-chut-chut," while its song is a high-pitched jumble of tweets and twitters, richer than that of its lesser double-collared counterpart. Additionally, it produces a shrill whistle and click, sounding like "wrew wrew wrew ch ch."

Breeding occurs throughout the year, peaking from July to November. The sunbird constructs a closed oval nest from grass, lichen, and other plant materials, all bound together with spider webs. The nest features a side entrance, occasionally adorned with a porch, and is lined with soft feathers.

The diet of the greater double-collared sunbird primarily consists of nectar from flowers. It also consumes fruit and, particularly when feeding young, insects and spiders. It has a unique habit of hovering in front of webs to pluck spiders and can hover like a hummingbird to feed on nectar, though it typically perches to do so.

The IUCN has classified the greater double-collared sunbird as Least Concern, indicating a stable population without significant threats to its survival.