Southern double collared sunbird
Introduction: Southern double-collared sunbirds (Cinnyris chalybeus) inhabit Karoo shrublands, woodland, plantations and some gardens. Small groups are common at food sources, flitting from flower to flower, although they usually occur singly or in pairs.
Distribution: Only found in Namibia around the Orange River and Fish River Canyon regions. Vagrant to Windhoek.
Diet: Eats mainly nectar by inserting bill into a wide variety of flowers. Also eats invertebrates such as flies, spiders and small beetles.
Description: Predominately iridescent green or blue plumage. Blackish brown flight feathers. Red breast band separated from a narrow green upper breast blue band, hence the common name. Chalybaeus is Latin for 'metallic'.
Breeding: Females can take up to 30 days to build an oval shaped nest, made from grass, twigs and rootlets. From 1 to 3 eggs are laid from March to November and incubated for around 14 days.
Size: 12cm.
Weight: 8g.
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