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;Nectarinia afra | ;Nectarinia afra | ||
[[Image:Greater_Double-collared_Sunbird.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by Mybs]] | [[Image:Greater_Double-collared_Sunbird.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by Mybs]] | ||
| + | == Other Names == | ||
| + | ''Cinnyris afer''; German: Großer Halsbandnektarvogel; Afrikaans: Grootrooibandsuikerbekkie | ||
| + | == Identification == | ||
| + | 14 - 15 cm and 11 g. The male Greater Double-collared Sunbird has a brilliant red band across the chest. As with other sunbirds the bill is long and decurved. The bill of this species is longer and more curved than that of the Southern Double-collared Sunbird. The bill, legs and feet are black. The eye is dark brown. The male has a brilliant glossy, metallic green head, throat upper breast and back. A narrow metallic blue band separates the green of the upper breast from the wide red breast band, below which the breast and belly are smoky-grey. The rump is blue When displaying bright yellow pectoral tufts can be seen on the shoulders. The female is brownish grey above with yellowish-grey underparts. Compared to the Southern Double-collared Sunbird, this species is larger, and the band across the chest is wider. | ||
| + | == Habitat == | ||
| + | The Greater Double-collared Sunbird occurs in coastal and riverine bush, forest edge, montane scrub, Protea Savannah, parks and gardens. It is usually solitary or in pairs. | ||
| + | == Behaviour == | ||
| + | Highly active birds chasing each other and other sunbird species about. Has the habit of hovering in front of webs to extract spiders. | ||
| + | == Foraging & Food == | ||
| + | It lives mainly on nectar of flowers, as well as fruit, insects and spiders. | ||
| + | == Breeding == | ||
| + | The Greater Double-collared Sunbird breeds all year round, with a peak from July to November. The nest is an untidy round oval of grass, dry leaves; bark shreds seed cases loosely bound together with spider webs. It has a side top entrance with a porch or hood, and is usually lined with feathers. | ||
| + | == Bird Call == | ||
| + | The call is a sustained jumble of tweeting, twittering and chipping notes, richer than the calls of the Southern Double Collard Sunbird. | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
*[http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showgallery.php?mcats=all&what=allfields&si=Greater+Double-collared+Sunbird View more images of Greater Double-collared Sunbird in the gallery] | *[http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showgallery.php?mcats=all&what=allfields&si=Greater+Double-collared+Sunbird View more images of Greater Double-collared Sunbird in the gallery] | ||
[[Category:Birds]] | [[Category:Birds]] | ||
Revision as of 12:45, 17 June 2007
- Nectarinia afra
Other Names
Cinnyris afer; German: Großer Halsbandnektarvogel; Afrikaans: Grootrooibandsuikerbekkie
Identification
14 - 15 cm and 11 g. The male Greater Double-collared Sunbird has a brilliant red band across the chest. As with other sunbirds the bill is long and decurved. The bill of this species is longer and more curved than that of the Southern Double-collared Sunbird. The bill, legs and feet are black. The eye is dark brown. The male has a brilliant glossy, metallic green head, throat upper breast and back. A narrow metallic blue band separates the green of the upper breast from the wide red breast band, below which the breast and belly are smoky-grey. The rump is blue When displaying bright yellow pectoral tufts can be seen on the shoulders. The female is brownish grey above with yellowish-grey underparts. Compared to the Southern Double-collared Sunbird, this species is larger, and the band across the chest is wider.
Habitat
The Greater Double-collared Sunbird occurs in coastal and riverine bush, forest edge, montane scrub, Protea Savannah, parks and gardens. It is usually solitary or in pairs.
Behaviour
Highly active birds chasing each other and other sunbird species about. Has the habit of hovering in front of webs to extract spiders.
Foraging & Food
It lives mainly on nectar of flowers, as well as fruit, insects and spiders.
Breeding
The Greater Double-collared Sunbird breeds all year round, with a peak from July to November. The nest is an untidy round oval of grass, dry leaves; bark shreds seed cases loosely bound together with spider webs. It has a side top entrance with a porch or hood, and is usually lined with feathers.
Bird Call
The call is a sustained jumble of tweeting, twittering and chipping notes, richer than the calls of the Southern Double Collard Sunbird.
