Greater/Southern Double Collared Sunbird, South Africa (1 Viewer)

S

Stan.

Well-known member

• Aug 18, 2017

• #1

Having never seen these birds before, I find it quite hard to gauge what is a 'narrow' red band and what is a 'wide' one..

https://observation.org/fotonew/0/14659870.jpg

This one was seen in a tiny patch of different trees amidst endless conifer plantations on the panorama route in Mpumalanga (it still makes me angry they dare market this as a nature destination).

 

pbjosh

missing the neotropics

• Aug 18, 2017

• #2

Greater for me.

 

A

AlinoVegano

Well-known member

• Aug 18, 2017

• #3

Greater for more curved bill, and red breast is wide indeed.

 

S

Stan.

Well-known member

• Aug 18, 2017

• #4

Thanks, both!

 

K

Keanumrc

Active member

• Aug 18, 2017

• #5

The breast band looks to me within the range for Southern Double-collared Sunbird subspecies capricornensis (see photo attached https://www.theflacks.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Magoebos-3-415-2.jpg ) which occurs in Limpopo and Mpumalanga, and looks a bit on the narrow side compared to breast bands on Greater Double-collared Sunbirds that I have seen. Southern Double-collared Sunbird also has a more decurved bill.

Keanu

 

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Last edited: Aug 18, 2017

S

Stan.

Well-known member

• Aug 18, 2017

• #6

Yeah, doing image searches the greaters seemed to have a much broader band and southerns a narrower one, but the image you linked looks very similar to mine. Thanks!

 

A

AlinoVegano

Well-known member

• Aug 18, 2017

• #7

Stan. said:

Yeah, doing image searches the greaters seemed to have a much broader band and southerns a narrower one, but the image you linked looks very similar to mine. Thanks!

Click to expand...

I'm not sure about that linked image, but same species can show variation in band width, it is why I suggest to use the structure of the bill.

That is a greater: http://www.biodiversityexplorer.org/birds/nectariniidae/images/8253greaterdcsunbird1_327w.jpg

That is an indisputable Southern: http://www.biodiversityexplorer.org/birds/nectariniidae/images/8248southerndcsunbird6_327w.jpg

 

S

Stan.

Well-known member

• Aug 18, 2017

• #8

So you still think it's a greater? I find it quite hard to see the exact differences in bill structure.

 

A

AlinoVegano

Well-known member

• Aug 18, 2017

• #9

Stan. said:

So you still think it's a greater? I find it quite hard to see the exact differences in bill structure.

Click to expand...

Your bird is not the easiest I must agree. Not 100% sure.