Malachite Sunbird

Nectarinia famosa

Fynbos and estern mountain foothills. Large, all-green sunbird with a long tail.

Not Endemic

Description

Common resident. Male unique in having an iridescent blue-green head, mantle, throat and breast plus white underparts; cf. [Dusky Sunbird]. Female very similar to female Dusky Sunbird, but underparts less clear white. Immature male may have pale yellow underparts and blue throat-patch; can then be mistaken for the smaller Plain-backed Sunbird in eastern regions, where their ranges overlap. The male has a loud, distinctive song, ‘chu-ee, chu-ee, chuee-trrrrrr’ or ‘ta-la, ta-la, ta-la, trrrr’ (hence scientific name), repeated frequently. Pairs occur in mixed bushveld and any woodland; particularly common in suburbia. Male is conspicuous by its habit of singing for long periods from a prominent perch.

Quick Facts

Bird Family

Small, insectivorous and nectar-drinking birds with decurved bills adapted to flower-probing. Males have iridescent plumage and yellow, orange or red tufts on the sides of the breast (pectoral tufts) that are displayed in excitement. Some males undergo an annual eclipse when they adopt drab, non-breeding plumage resembling the normal plumage of the female. Immatures are like females, often with a dark throat. Their flight is swift and erratic, males spending much time chasing females and other males. They gather in numbers when favoured nectar-rich plants are in blossom.