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Shelley's Sunbird | Cinnyris shelleyi
The Shelley's Sunbird is a Southern African bird that belongs to the Nectariniidae bird family group which includes birds such as Sunbirds. The description for the Shelley's Sunbird (Latin name Cinnyris shelleyi) can be found in the 7th Edition of the Roberts Birds of Southern Africa. The Cinnyris shelleyi can be quickly identified by its unique Roberts identification number of 781 and the detailed description of this bird is on page 997. You will find a picture of the Shelley's Sunbird on page 977. NOTE: The reference for the information following is "Roberts Birds of Southern Africa", 7th Edition*. This edition contained a number of taxonomic changes as well as changes to English names used traditionally and in earlier editions of most bird books in South Africa. The following paragraph notes such changes if any. The Latin name for this bird is Nectarinia shelleyi in the Roberts 6th Edition. The Shelley's Sunbird has a height of 11 cms and weighs around 10 gms. The head is coloured green while the bill is coloured black. The Cinnyris shelleyi has a grey coloured throat, black legs and a green, bronze coloured back. The eyes are brown. The male Cinnyris shelleyi has physical features that are slightly different from the female bird. Take note of the main distinguishing features such as colour, size and leg length relative to the body size. Colours of body parts can be helpful. Be aware what may appear brown to one person is described in Roberts using some other word ... for example brown, black. See colours used in Roberts. Head is green Eyes are brown Bill is black Legs are black Throat is grey Back is green, bronze Feeding Habits ...This bird eats insects such as butterflies, bees, wasps, locusts and ants. These invertebrates are usually hawked aerially, killed and then eaten . The bird also drinks nectar from flowers high up in the tree canopy. Breeding, Habitat and Nesting Habits ...The Shelley's Sunbird is a monogamous bird which means that the bird finds and breeds with one partner for the rest of its life. The bird lays between 2 eggs and they are coloured blue. The nest is built high up in the tree canopy and is protected from predators by branches and the dense green foligae. The Shelley's Sunbird is mainly found in light and densely wooded forests, where there are Mopane trees. The bird is at home in riverine forests and close to water bodies such as lakes, dams and streams Seen in Flocks, Singles or Pairs Normally ...The Shelley's Sunbird is mainly seen singly or in pairs in the wild. This bird is usually seen in small family groups or in large flocks |
