<< Previous Next >>

Cape Sugarbird


Cape Sugarbird
Photo Information
Copyright: Mike Rolfe (fiftysomething) Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 45 W: 3 N: 121] (574)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-10-20
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 30D, Canon EF100-400 F4.5-5.6L IS USM
Exposure: f/9.5, 1/250 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Birds of South Africa 2 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-12-07 1:32
Viewed: 567
Points: 10
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The Cape Sugarbird, Promerops cafer, is one of the six bird species endemic to the Fynbos biome of the western and eastern Cape Province, South Africa.

It is a grey-brown bird that easily recognizable by a spot of yellow under its tail and the very long tail feathers present in males. The male is 34-44 cm long, and the shorter-tailed, shorter-billed, and paler breasted female 25-29 cm long. Another characteristic of the Cape Sugarbird is the sound it makes when it flies. The main flight feathers are arranged in such a way that when the bird beats its wings, a frrt-frrt sound is made with the intention of attracting females.

This bird is a specialist nectar feeder when it comes to feeding off Proteaceae. Its long, sharp beak is used to reach the nectar of a variety of species of protea with its long brush-tipped tongue. The staple diet of this sugarbird is nectar, however it will also eat spiders and insects. The characteristic strong winds in the Cape may make feeding off protea heads difficult, but the Cape Sugarbird has adapted to this with the development of sharp claws.

The Cape Sugarbird is distributed throughout the Cape Floral Region where there are flowering proteas and ericas. It is also found in gardens in summer when most proteas are not in flower. The breeding season for the Cape Sugarbird is winter when there are ample food supplies.

I have deliberately not cropped the photo any further in order to illustrate the typical fynbos vegetation in which this bird is found.
Debz, uleko has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
None
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

hi mike
a very good composition
amazing specimen
the background is beautiful

aleks ;-)

  • Great 
  • Debz Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 582 W: 0 N: 866] (3283)
  • [2007-12-07 3:14]

Hi Mike, Wow what a bird, amazing long tail! Wonderful composition here with good light and colour. The Sugerbird is nice and sharp, great focus and dof. Very unusual.
tfs
debz

great pic, TFS Ori

Hello Mike,
Good compo. Nice light.
Well done
TFS
Annick

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2378 W: 164 N: 7139] (22556)
  • [2008-02-20 3:32]

Hi Mike,
Thanks for your comment on my Friarbird - you'r right, it has a similarity to this one apart from the long beautiful tail of this Sugarbird! This is a lovely composition showing the bird sharply in focus and in beautiful light.
Many thanks and regards,Ulla

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF