Cape sugarbird facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cape sugarbird |
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| Male in South Africa | |
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Promeropidae |
| Genus: | Promerops |
| Species: |
P. cafer
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| Binomial name | |
| Promerops cafer (Linnaeus, 1758)
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| Synonyms | |
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Merops cafer Linnaeus, 1758 |
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The Cape sugarbird (Promerops cafer) is a special bird found only in the Fynbos areas of South Africa. It lives in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces.
Contents
About the Cape Sugarbird
What is a Cape Sugarbird?
The Cape sugarbird is a grey-brown bird. You can easily spot it by a bright yellow patch under its tail. Male sugarbirds have very long tail feathers, which makes them stand out.
Male sugarbirds are usually 34–44 cm long. Females are a bit smaller, about 25–29 cm long. They also have shorter tails and bills, and their chests are a lighter color.
When a Cape sugarbird flies, it makes a unique frrt-frrt sound. This sound comes from its main flight feathers. The birds make this sound to attract females.
Where Do They Live?
Cape sugarbirds live in the Fynbos region of South Africa. This area has many protea and erica flowers. These birds are most common in places where the plants haven't burned recently. You might also see them in gardens during summer when fewer proteas are blooming.
The Cape sugarbird has a large population and a wide range. Because of this, it is listed as "Least Concern" by the IUCN Red List. This means it is not currently at risk of disappearing.
What Do They Eat?
Cape sugarbirds love to eat nectar from Proteaceae flowers. They have long, sharp beaks and long, brush-tipped tongues. These help them reach the sweet nectar deep inside the flowers.
Even though nectar is their main food, they also eat spiders and other insects. The Cape region can be very windy. To help them feed in strong winds, Cape sugarbirds have developed sharp claws to hold on tight to the flowers.
How Do They Breed?
Cape sugarbirds usually breed in winter. This is when there is plenty of food available. Male sugarbirds claim areas in mature protea bushes. They then perform special calls to attract females.
Gallery
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Cape sugarbird
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Female in South Africa
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Male drinking nectar from a Protea cynaroides in South Africa
 | William M. Jackson |
 | Juan E. Gilbert |
 | Neil deGrasse Tyson |
