Brightly coloured sunbirds retrieve nectar from flowers
South Africa has 21 species of sunbirds found locally. They are charismatic little birds to see in your garden.
Orange-breasted sunbirds measure between 12.5 to 16.5 cm in length (including the tail). The male is generally larger than the shorter-tailed female.
The female has an olive-yellow head and upperparts, and yellow underparts. The juvenile resembles the female.
These sunbirds are common residents found along the coastal belt from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth. They like fynbos with proteas and ericas, enjoying the nectar, but also feed on insects which they hawk in flight.
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Found solitary or in pairs when breeding, otherwise gregarious in loose flocks of up to 100 birds. They are aggressive towards other birds, the males having a flitting hovering display. These sunbirds commonly bathe in dew on leaves.
The call in a metallic nasal twang giving a rapidly repeated “tick” when in pursuit. They often mimic other birds. Breeding season is May to November. The nest is a round oval of rootlets, fine leafy twigs and grass bound with spider webs, and lined with brown protea fluff, usually less than one metre above the ground in bushes. Usually two creamy white eggs are laid. The incubation period is 14 to 15 days and nestling time is 15 to 19 days.
The Afrikaans name is die oranjeborssuikerbekkie.
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