Orange-breasted Sunbird

Anthobaphes violacea

Fynbos. Head, mantle and throat green; upper breast has purple breast-band; underparts orange.

Sunbirds

Endemic

Description

Common resident. A tiny, short-billed and short-tailed sunbird. Both sexes told from [Plain-backed Sunbird] by iridescent green upper parts and rich yellow underparts; male by all-green head and throat with blue-and-purple collar. Male told from [Variable Sunbird] by short bill and narrow collar. Song is a weak, cricket-like ‘chirrreee, chirreee, chirreee’ or a brisk ‘tseep, t-t-t-t-t’. Pairs frequent the fringes of forest, riverine forests, and coastal and valley bush, especially where there are flowering creepers. Often joins bird parties.

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.