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Spinning a nest...


Spinning a nest...
Photo Information
Copyright: Gerhard Theron (gerhardt) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2210 W: 268 N: 4098] (11541)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-05-15
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 300D, Canon EF 100-400mm F/4.5-5.6L IS USM, Digital ISO 200, Hoya UV-Guard (77mm)
Exposure: f/8, 1/800 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Birds of Southern Africa [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-05-26 6:09
Viewed: 1382
Points: 46
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Malachite Sunbird
Nectarinia famosa

Also known as: AFR: Jangroentjie, GER: Malachitnektarvogel, FRE: Souimanga malachite

“famosa” Latin, renowned.
”nectarinia” Latin, of nectar (originally nectareus).

This is a non-breeding male. The breeding male is entirely bright metallic green, with coppery sheen on the back. It is very high on my wishlist and I think one of our loveliest birds when breeding.

Found from SA to Ethiopia. In SA throughout most of Cape Province, extreme s Namibia, Lesotho, inland KwaZulu-Natal, south and eastern Free State, western Swaziland, Transvaal; also eastern highlands of Zimbabwe and adjacent Mozambique. They are quite common in resident lower-lying areas; seasonal migrant from higher regions in winter, especially from Lesotho highlands to eastern Free State and KwaZulu-Natal midlands.

Habits:
Enjoys scrubby hillsides in mountainous country, alpine grasslands, succulent arid steppe of Namaqualand, riverine thornbush, gardens, parks, exotic plantations (especially when Eucalyptus in flower). Usually solitary birds but found in pairs only when breeding. They probes flowers for nectar; but also hawks insects in flight with the snap of bill. They are active, conspicuous and aggressive, often chasing conspecifics and other sunbirds. Eats nectar (especially of Leonotis, aloes, proteas, Kniphofia, Watsonia), insects, spiders.

Breeding:
These birds breed from August to January in the Free State. The nest is oval and made of grass, leaves, twigs, fronds and roots, bound with spider web, with side-top entrance; lined with fine grass, hair, plant down and feathers. The entrance usually has a porch. They usually lay two eggs. Incubation takes 13 days and the eggs are watched by the female only. The chicks stay in the nest for 18-21 days and are fed by both parents. The young return to roost in nest for 1-2 nights after the initial departure.

I was fascinated to find out that they use spider webs to bind the leaves and twigs in the nest. Would love to find out how they go about collecting it? Even more... I would love to get a photo of it while collecting the webs. :) I had this on my wish list and would only like to get it with the breeding plumage now. Hope you like it.
coasties, dew77, puffy, carper, Callie, TAZ, jagathcham, Comandante, sandpiper2, Fisher, AndyB, suleesia, liquidsunshine, naki, JeanMichel, scottevers7, marhowie, Janice has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

This is a beauty Gerhard. What a long tail! Nice plumage colours too. Very interesting note about the spiders web. It would be a great catch. Perfect shot. Thanks.

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5171 W: 297 N: 4050] (13069)
  • [2005-05-26 6:23]

Hello Gerhard!
Very interresting bird and wonderful shot.Colors,framing,details and your model are perfect.TFS...:-)

  • Great 
  • puffy Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 314 W: 0 N: 352] (1349)
  • [2005-05-26 6:31]

what a beauty Gerhard, nice DOF,details and colours, good composition too. I like the long tail, look like a lady. :P Well done, thanks for sharing.

hij is prachtig vriend,
uitstekende capture, goede compositie, uitstekednde pov en prima dof, goede kleuren, vakmanschap,
gr. Jaap

Hi Gerhard
Green green, its green they say, on the farside of the hill - en jangroen is pragtig. They are so quick and fast, and then their metalic green irridescence makes for very difficult shooting too. Very nice exposure - I have one on the male in his courting suit, but small and on slide somewhere. Nice note, they are not the onlt sunbirds using spiderwebs to build.

Hi Gerhard!
Wonderful bird shot.Colors,lighting and composition are excellent.Thanks for sharing.

Good sharp image Gerhard. Great pose and composition. Good exposure and a non-breeding male is better than none at all. Well done.

A beautiful bird, Gerhard.
Excelent capture and well composed and presented. Excelent work.

Mike

  • Great 
  • AndyB Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1586 W: 32 N: 1350] (3980)
  • [2005-05-26 8:45]

What a beautiful bird and very well captured it is too.
Excellent composition,colours and exposure.
Great note too and very interesting about the spiders webs.
Very well done.

TFS

Hello Gerhard!
A fine capture of this colorful beauty!
A very crisp and clear image,nice pose of the sunbird.

Excellent capture, great looking bird!!! Well presented.

  • Great 
  • naki Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 421 W: 27 N: 782] (2694)
  • [2005-05-26 15:29]

Hi Gerhard, I consider me as lucky because of your long wish list.:) Waiting them eagerly.
Great picture, It must be hard to deal with this long tail but you did it very good in your composition. Fine details and lovely colours.
Very well done.

Stunning bird Gerhard,
Excellent capture with the beak just open.
Colours, composition, detail, sharpness and DOF are perfect.
Great notes, thanks for posting

Hello Gerhard

Very nice capture. As habitual one excellent colourfull composition.

TFS

What an elegant bird, Gerhard! I like his pose with the beak a bit open and a kind of inquisite look. Those shots where we can discern an expression work very well and you've got it perfect. No nits. Simply beautiful.
PS: There are European birds spinning their nest with spider webs also. Will check that with a skilled friend tomorrow.

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2058 W: 315 N: 4404] (14713)
  • [2005-05-26 20:18]

Hello Gerhard.
Personal assessment of the photo: excellent.
Very good visual impact.
Aptness of the photo for the site: excellent.
Personal assessment of the note: complete.
Thank you very much for sharing. I look forward to see a Sunbird collecting the webs. Maybe next August!

An excellent shot on this colorful fellow. A beautiful bird with vivid colors. Thanks for a great photo, and great notes to help my education...Nice Work...Thanks..Scott

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3091 W: 234 N: 5896] (19880)
  • [2005-05-27 1:11]

What a beautiful bird, Gerhard. The colors are stunning. That tail is unbelievable. Great shot. Great composition. TFS. : )

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2385 W: 50 N: 3186] (10922)
  • [2005-05-27 4:22]

Waouh ! Très belle et intéressante composition photographique pour ce magnifique oiseau. Jolies couleurs, belle luminosité, bon point de vue et bonne netteté.
Wonderful, interesting & well done !

Hello Gerhard, Very crisp and clear, great sharpness and colors..Interesting note - I suppose they "kill two birds with one stone" this way..nesting material and a snack all in one place..Economy, that's natures way! Very well done my friend!

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3461 W: 145 N: 5914] (17724)
  • [2005-05-28 0:19]

What a looooong bird this one is, looking at his beak and tail. Very interesting note too Gerhard. Poor spiders, having to lose their homes - pity! Good details and colours, and nice and sharp too. Well shown.

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2306 W: 324 N: 4306] (16856)
  • [2005-06-04 17:21]

Gerhard, the colors of this great looking bird remind me of the colors of the jerseys of Brazil's soccer team: yellow and green.

Another very nice photo.

A great composition, a very beautiful photo.

hello:)

Great capture, Excellent detail, colours, sharpness and composition. Good BG and great POV. Thanks for posting, Have a good weekend.

rgs

Malgosia

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