Orange-breasted Sunbird

As with other sunbirds the bill is long and decurved, that of the male being longer than that of the female. The bill, legs and feet are black. The eye is dark brown.

The Orange-breasted Sunbird is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

The beautiful Orange-breasted Sunbird Anthobaphes violacea is endemic to the fynbos of southwestern South Africa, but also occurs in parks and gardens. Often tame and quite approachable (especially in eg Botanic Gardens), the Orange-breasted Sunbird is a common breeder across its limited range, and an altitudinal migrant moving to to higher altitudes during the southern summer in search of flowers. More

The Orange-breasted Sunbird, Anthobaphes violacea, is the only member of the bird genus Anthobaphes although it is sometimes placed in the genus Nectarinia. This sunbird is endemic to the fynbos habitat of southwestern South Africa, but also occurs in parks and gardens. More

* Genus Anthobaphes - Orange-breasted Sunbird (sometimes included in Nectarinia) * Genus Cyanomitra (sometimes included in Nectarinia) * Green-headed Sunbird, Cyanomitra verticalis * Blue-throated Brown Sunbird, Cyanomitra cyanolaema * Blue-headed Sunbird, Cyanomitra alinae * Cameroon Sunbird, Cyanomitra oritis * Bannerman's Sunbird, Cyanomitra bannermani More

Orange-breasted Sunbird - Table Mountain Sunbirds Photos by jacliz ©2010 Google Terms - Download Picasa - Launch Picasa - Privacy Policy - Developer - Blog - Google Home More

Orange-breasted Sunbird is a nectar specialist and is strongly associated Erica spp.; also occurs wherever Protea, Mimetes, and Leucospermum spp. are in flower. Insects are hawked occasionally, especially in swampy or damp areas with reedbeds and sedges where gnats tend to swarm. It is not uncommon to see this sunbird feeding the ground Diet. Nectar feeding birds, they use their long, probing tongues to soak up juices, etc. Predators. Not known - possibly snakes and raptors. More

* (the Orange-breasted Sunbird, Anthobaphes violacea, is sometimes included in the Necarinia. More

orange-breasted sunbird (Anthobaphes violacea) is dependent on proteas and heaths in its fynbos habitat. Physical characteristics Most male sunbirds and many of the females are brightly colored, with iridescent plumage covering varying proportions of their bodies. The color of the iridescence changes with the angle of incident light such that a blue may suddenly appear green or black. More

Images previous Erica imageJuvenile male orange-breasted sunbird feeding on Erica verticillata © Colin Paterson-Jones / naturalvisions.co. More

See Orange-breasted Sunbird on a Hottentots Holland Birding Tour © Mike Buckham About Birding Africa Birding Africa is a specialist birding tour company customising tours for both world listers and more relaxed holiday birders. We combine interests in mammals, butterflies, dragonflies, botany and other natural history aspects and will guide you to Africa's and Madagascar's most diverse birding destinations. More

The Orange-breasted Sunbird subsists on flower nectar, insects and spiders. The call is a twangy, weak ssharaynk or sskrang, often repeated several times. The Orange-breasted Sunbird breeds from February to November (Mainly in May - August) The nest is an oval of rootlets, fine leafy twigs and grass, bound together with spider webs and lined with brown protea fluff. It has a side top entrance, but does not have a covered porch. More

Orange-breasted Sunbird, Cape Spurfowl, Cape Bulbul, Cape Siskin are also resident; Protea Seed-eater is a rare visitor. Following my previous posts about the Betty’s Bay tern roost and otter sighting, Harold Porter is located less than a kilometer from these sights. Harold porter map w labels The gardens only open at 7am, which is a bit of a nuisance, but a recent morning visit produced a nice smattering of birds. More

Male orange-breasted sunbird, Anthobaphes violacea, on Haemanthus sanguineus with pollen on its beak, Cape Peninsula, South Africa in March Keywords Africa . alphabetical . animals . antheridial . Anthobaphes . Anthobaphes violacea . avifauna . birds . breasted . Cao . Cape . Cape Peninsula . flora . flowers . fynbos . haeckeli . Haemanthus . Haemanthus sanguineus . orang . orange . orange breasted sunbird . Peninnis . peninsula . plants . pollen . pollinating . pollination . More

Lesser Double-Collared, the Orange-breasted Sunbird and the biggest of the sunbirds, the Malachite (Jan Groentjie). The only other sunbird fairly regularly seen, is the Greater Double-Collared Sunbird. - The Lesser Double and the Malachite are the main garden birds; the Orange-breasted prefers the fynbos when Ericas are plentiful, but they will also occasionally visit your garden. They are particularly fond of Haleria lucida trees, so always keep a space for one of them in your garden. More