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| − | [[Image:Gurney's_Sugarbirda.jpg|thumb| | + | [[Image:Gurney's_Sugarbirda.jpg|thumb|450px|right|Photo by {{user|Alan+Manson|Alan Manson}}<br />Cavern Resort, [[KwaZulu-Natal]], Drakensberg, [[South Africa]]]] |
;[[:Category:Promerops|Promerops]] gurneyi | ;[[:Category:Promerops|Promerops]] gurneyi | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | Length 23-29 cm (tail 10-17 cm | + | Length 23-29 cm (9-11½ in); tail 10-17 cm, mass 32-38 g, males larger than females, with longer tails. |
| + | *Crown and breast russet | ||
| + | *Back and [[Topography#Heads|malar]] stripe brown, back streaked | ||
| + | *Cheek and throat white | ||
| + | *Belly white streaked dusky | ||
| + | *Vent and undertail [[Topography#General Anatomy|coverts]] yellow. | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
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==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| + | [[Image:CN2T6643 edited-1.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|j+van+Noordwyk|j van Noordwyk}}<br />Giants Castle, [[KwaZulu-Natal]], [[South Africa]]]] | ||
One of two species in the family [[:Category:Promeropidae|Promeropidae]]. The [[Cape Sugarbird]] ''Promerops cafer'' is also endemic to southern [[Africa]]. | One of two species in the family [[:Category:Promeropidae|Promeropidae]]. The [[Cape Sugarbird]] ''Promerops cafer'' is also endemic to southern [[Africa]]. | ||
| + | ====Subspecies==== | ||
| + | Two subspecies<sup>[[#References|2]]</sup>: | ||
| + | *''P. g. ardens'': breast brighter than nominate race, lower back greener, and cheeks darker. | ||
| + | :*Eastern [[Zimbabwe]] to west-central [[Mozambique]] north of Limpopo River | ||
| + | *''P. g. gurneyi'': | ||
| + | :*Northern and eastern [[South Africa]] (Limpopo south along the Drakensberg escarpment to Eastern Cape) | ||
| − | |||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
Montane scrub with ''Protea'', ''Aloe'' and ''Strelitzia'' species. Frequents ''Protea'' farms. | Montane scrub with ''Protea'', ''Aloe'' and ''Strelitzia'' species. Frequents ''Protea'' farms. | ||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
| − | Solitary or in pairs, with groups at rich food sources. Aggressive, especially to others of the same species, and to Malachite Sunbirds. | + | Solitary or in pairs, with groups at rich food sources. Aggressive, especially to others of the same species, and to Malachite Sunbirds. |
| + | ====Diet==== | ||
| + | Feeds on nectar (especially that of ''Protea'' species), arthropods, and some pollen. | ||
| + | ====Movements==== | ||
| + | Moves locally up to 37 km in response to flowering of food plants. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | #{{Ref-Hockeyetal05}}#{{Ref- | + | #{{Ref-Hockeyetal05}}#{{Ref-Clements6thAug15}} |
{{Ref}} | {{Ref}} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
{{GSearch|Promerops+gurneyi}} | {{GSearch|Promerops+gurneyi}} | ||
[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Promerops]][[Category:Maps]] | [[Category:Birds]][[Category:Promerops]][[Category:Maps]] | ||
Revision as of 22:42, 4 May 2016
- Promerops gurneyi
Identification
Length 23-29 cm (9-11½ in); tail 10-17 cm, mass 32-38 g, males larger than females, with longer tails.
- Crown and breast russet
- Back and malar stripe brown, back streaked
- Cheek and throat white
- Belly white streaked dusky
- Vent and undertail coverts yellow.
Distribution
 |
Eastern South Africa, western Swaziland and highlands of eastern Zimbabwe and adjacent Mozambique. |
| Legend • P. g. ardens; year-round |
Taxonomy
One of two species in the family Promeropidae. The Cape Sugarbird Promerops cafer is also endemic to southern Africa.
Subspecies
Two subspecies2:
- P. g. ardens: breast brighter than nominate race, lower back greener, and cheeks darker.
- Eastern Zimbabwe to west-central Mozambique north of Limpopo River
- P. g. gurneyi:
- Northern and eastern South Africa (Limpopo south along the Drakensberg escarpment to Eastern Cape)
Habitat
Montane scrub with Protea, Aloe and Strelitzia species. Frequents Protea farms.
Behaviour
Solitary or in pairs, with groups at rich food sources. Aggressive, especially to others of the same species, and to Malachite Sunbirds.
Diet
Feeds on nectar (especially that of Protea species), arthropods, and some pollen.
Movements
Moves locally up to 37 km in response to flowering of food plants.
References
- Hockey, PAR, WRJ Dean, and PG Ryan, eds. 2005. Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa. 7th ed. Cape Town: John Voelcker Bird Book Fund. ISBN 978-0620340533
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2015. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2015, with updates to August 2015. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Gurney's Sugarbird. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 26 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Gurney%27s_Sugarbird
