Hummingbirds in the Americas are similar to birds found in the Old World. They are known for their striking colors that gleam in the sunlight. Male hummingbirds are more extravagant, making them easily distinguishable, while females have sleeker bodies, making it difficult to identify them. (Upon a recommendation from my birdwatching and proofreading companion, I decided to rephrase the previous paragraph. Nonetheless, the idea remains the same.)
The Southern Double-collared Swallow is a charming bird that measures 12 cm in length. The male of the species boasts a dazzling appearance, with a metallic green head and throat, peach-colored breasts and back. The rest of its body is white, with a bold red line separating the green breast from the rest of the chest. During display, yellow feathers can be seen on its shoulders, further adding to its beauty. This sparrowbird’s legs and feet are black, while its beak is long and curved downward. The bird’s black brow and eye only serve to enhance its overall attractiveness.
To differentiate between the Southern Double-collared Sunbird and the Greater Double-collared Sunbird, one can observe the former’s smaller size, shorter beak, and more angular red breast band. The juvenile of this species bears resemblance to the female, featuring brown upperparts and yellowish-grey underparts. In comparison to the female Dusky Sunbird or Orange-breasted Sunbird, the female Southern Double-collared Sunbird has a darker underpart that appears greyer in color.
The Southern Double-collared Sunbird can often be spotted flying alone or in small groups. Its swift, straight flight is aided by its narrow wingspan. Though fruit and nectar from flowers are its primary sources of food, it may occasionally feed on insects and spiders, particularly while raising its young. While it can hover like a hummingbird to gather nectar, it generally perches to eat. Its cry is a sharp “chee-chee,” while its song is a delightful melody of tinkling notes that vary in pitch and speed for up to five seconds or more.
The African Paradise Flycatcher is known to breed in gardens or on the edges of forests. Their nests are often untidily built and positioned around two to three meters above the ground. The entrance of their nest is protected by a hood made of fine grass, securely attached to surrounding vegetation. It is also common to see loose materials hanging from the bottom of the nest. Breeding for this bird species usually happens between July and November, with a clutch size of two. However, their nests are often targeted by Klaas’s Cuckoo. The female bird takes full responsibility for the 15-16 day incubation stage, while the fledgling phase lasts the same amount of time.
The Double-collared Southern Sunbird can commonly be spotted in places like coastal scrub, fynbos, gardens, and woodlands. Depending on the region, this sunbird’s breeding season can vary, but it typically occurs between April and December. The nest is built using various plant resources such as grass and lichen, and bound together by spider webs. To line the oval-shaped nest, feathers, wool, and plant down are used. It has a side entrance and sometimes even a porch.
