Tags
Animalia, Biology, birds, Erica, Flora and Fauna, fynbos, Orange breasted Sunbird, South Africa, Species
Every early Summer these little Orange Breasted Sunbirds come down from the Mountain to find easier foraging in suburban gardens.
Obviously due to its restricted range within fynbos this sunbird is associated with Ericas, from which it takes nectar, insects (often taken in flight) and spiders. It breeds when the heath flowers, typically in May. The male defends its territory aggressively, attacking and chasing intruders.
This tame species is a common breeder across its limited range, and is an altitudinal migrant, moving to higher altitudes during the southern summer in search of flowers. It is gregarious when not breeding, forming flocks of up to 100 birds.
Related articles
- White-bellied Sunbird (Cinnyris talatala) (sonelcorner.wordpress.com)
- Fynbos: Natural Vegetation in the Western Cape (deeproets.wordpress.com)
- Home made bird water feeder
aristonorganic 