Southern double-collared sunbird facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Southern double-collared sunbird |
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| Male at Greyton, Western Cape, South Africa | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Cinnyris
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| Species: |
chalybeus
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| range strongholds, occurring year-round lower density, passage or vagrancy |
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| Synonyms | |
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The Southern Double-collared Sunbird (Cinnyris chalybeus) is a small, colorful bird found in southern Africa. It's also known as the Lesser Double-collared Sunbird. These birds are mostly found in one area. However, some might travel a little in the northeast parts of their home range.
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Where Does This Sunbird Live?
This sunbird loves to live in many places. You can often find it in gardens, forests, and bushy areas near the coast. It also lives in a special type of plant area called fynbos.
Nesting and Reproduction
The Southern Double-collared Sunbird builds its nest between April and December. The exact time depends on where the bird lives. Their nest is shaped like a closed oval. It is made from grass, lichen, and other plant bits. They use spider webs to hold it all together!
The nest has a small opening on the side. Sometimes, this entrance even has a little "porch." Inside, the nest is soft and cozy. It is lined with wool, soft plant fluff, and feathers.
What Does This Sunbird Look Like?
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The Southern Double-collared Sunbird is about 12 centimeters (about 4.7 inches) long. The adult male is very striking! Its head, throat, upper chest, and back are a shiny, metallic green.
Right below the green, it has a bright red band across its chest. A thin, metallic blue band separates the red from the green. The rest of its belly is whitish. When the male wants to show off, you can see yellow feathers on its shoulders.
Like other sunbirds, its beak is long and curved downwards. Its beak, legs, and feet are black. Its eyes are dark brown. You can tell the male apart from the similar greater double-collared sunbird because it's smaller. It also has a thinner red chest band and a shorter beak.
The female Southern Double-collared Sunbird looks different. Her upper parts are brown, and her underparts are yellowish-grey. Young birds look similar to the female. The female is greyer underneath than the female orange-breasted sunbird. She is also darker underneath than the female dusky sunbird.
How Does This Sunbird Behave?
You usually see these sunbirds alone or in small groups. They fly very fast and straight using their short wings. Their main food is nectar from flowers. They also eat some fruit. When feeding their young, they especially like to catch insects and spiders.
They can hover in the air like a hummingbird to drink nectar. But most of the time, they prefer to perch on a branch while they eat.
What Does This Sunbird Sound Like?
The call of this bird is a sharp chee-chee. Its song is a high-pitched mix of tinkling notes. The song goes up and down in pitch and speed. It can last for 3 to 5 seconds or even longer!
