Cinnyris chalybeus
The Southern Double-collared Sunbird (Cinnyris chalybeus) is a captivating passerine renowned for its dazzling iridescent plumage, particularly the male's metallic green head and back, contrasting with a vibrant red breast band bordered by a narrower, iridescent blue-violet band - the "double collar" from which it derives its common name. This petite bird typically measures 11-13 cm in length and weighs between 7-11 grams, boasting a distinctively downcurved bill perfectly adapted for nectar ...
This adaptable species primarily thrives in fynbos, karoo scrub, coastal thickets, forest edges, and suburban gardens and parks, typically at elevations below 2,000 meters.
Primarily feeds on nectar from a wide range of flowering plants, supplemented significantly by small insects, spiders, and occasionally small fruits, which are captured by gleaning or hawking.
Southern Double-collared Sunbirds are diurnal and highly active, spending their days flitting energetically between flowers and foliage, often perching conspicuously to sing their bubbling, chattering songs. Foraging primarily involves probing flowers for nectar with their specialized bills and c...
The Southern Double-collared Sunbird is endemic to Southern Africa, boasting a wide and stable distribution primarily across South Africa, extending west into eastern Namibia, east into Lesotho, and Eswatini (formerly Swaziland). Its range covers a variety of biomes, from the arid Karoo to the mo...
Least Concern
- The male Southern Double-collared Sunbird can rotate its tongue up to 90 degrees to efficiently extract nectar from deep flowers. - Despite their hummingbird-like appearance and behavior, sunbirds are not related to hummingbirds; they are a classic example of convergent evolution. - Their iride...