From Opus

Anthobaphes violacea

Nectarinia violacea

Photo by Mybs
Helderberg Nature Reserve, near Cape Town, South Africa

[edit] Identification

14.5–16.5 cm. Head metallic green with brown upperparts, orange breast, blue band across the base of the throat.

[edit] Distribution

South Africa

[edit] Taxonomy

Recent molecular studies have suggested that this species is basal among the African Sunbirds and it has been placed in the monotypic genus Anthobaphes (previously Nectarinia).

[edit] Habitat

Heathlands, parks and gardens.

[edit] Behaviour

Its diet includes nectar, insects and spiders.

The female builds a ball-shaped nest from rootlets, leaves, twigs, grass, and cobwebs, which is placed in a bush. 1-2 white eggs with brown markings are laid and incubated for 2 weeks. Both sexes feed young but the female does two-thirds of the work. After fledging, the parents tend the young for three weeks.

[edit] External Links