The ornate sunbird belongs to the Nectariniidae or sunbird family. Members of this family, with their metallic plumages and slender decurved bills, superficially resemble the hummingbirds of Central and South America, especially since they are also able to hover when collecting food. Male ornate sunbirds have a distinctive, iridescent bluish-black forehead, throat and upper breast and bright yellow underparts. The females have an olive-green plumage on their upperparts and completely yellow underparts. Juveniles are similar to the females in colour, the olive-green colouration of their upperparts offering camouflage during this vulnerable stage of their lives. Adults are about 11 cm in length. Its call is a high-pitched metallic chirp, “cheep, cheep, wheet”, or a high-pitched rising “chee”. |
