Chirping with Kloof Conservancy: Greater Double-collared Sunbird

Kloof Conservancy

THE Greater Double-collared Sunbird is beautiful and is a relatively common in the Upper Highway area. It is particularly visible at this time of the year while the aloes and other nectar producing plants are in flower.

Description
As with most of our sunbirds, the juveniles and females are grey and can be difficult to identify. However, the male is one of the most bountiful of all the sunbirds that occur in the Upper Highway area. It is medium sized and the only similar and confusing species is the Southern Double-collared Sunbird. The Greater is larger, has a longer, decurved bill and a broader red breast-band. The head, throat and back are a brilliant metallic green, with a thin blue rump and a wide, bright red breast-band that is between 18 to 23mm wide. The belly is a smoky grey.

Behaviour
At this time of the year it can be observed perching on the vertical stem below a flower cluster. It reaches up with its bill, extending it through a flower tube into its basal nectar chamber. It has a long tubular tongue that helps it to suck out the nectar. It then moves on to another flower. In this process, it collects pollen from one flower and deposits it in the next. DietNectar, insects and spiders. Their favourites at this time of the year in our area are Aloes, Loenotis, Erythrina and many other nectar trees and plants. They are particularly attracted to red/orange flowers.

ALSO READ: Chirping with Kloof Conservancy – the Narina Trogon

Breeding
They breed on forest edges and sometimes in gardens. The nest is an untidy oval that is usually 2m to 3m above the ground and is securely built into the foliage. It has a well-developed hood of fine grass that projects over the entrance and loose nesting material often hangs from the bottom. The laying months are typically July to November with a clutch size of two. The nests are frequently parasitized by Klaas’s Cuckoo. The incubation period is 15 to 16 days by the female only. Nestling/fledging period is 15 or 16 days.

Distribution
It is a common endemic that covers most of the eastern side of South Africa, including part of Swaziland but not Lesotho.

Habitat
Mainly coastal and riverine bush, forest edges, parks and gardens.

Threat
It is a common resident in the Upper Highway area and not at all threatened.

ALSO READ: Chirping with Kloof Conservancy – the Purple Crested Turaco

Interesting Facts
Sunbirds have different bill shapes and sizes that make it a species that is better suited for a specific flower for nectar extraction. This is thought to result from co-evolution, a process whereby two species undergo reciprocal genetic changes and develop traits to help each other.

When my son was young, a sunbird built its nest next to a path that is near a forested section of our garden. He had a slightly older friend who came over to play and I thought it would be educational to show them the nest before I left for work. Strict instructions were given not to touch. You can imagine my horror when I returned home from work to see the nest in a box on the dining room table, with the two little darlings playing with the chicks. I was able to re-attach the nest about 1m from its original position. The adults continued to feed the chicks, none the worse for wear and they eventually fledged.

Visit www.kloofconservancy.org.za or follow the NPO on Facebook at www.facebook.com/KloofConservancy

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