BIRDS
Protea Canary, Serinus leucopterus
This endemic and resident breeder, also known as the protea seedeater, white-winged seedeater or Layard’s seedeater of the Western Cape. This species is found in mature protea veld, intertwined valley thickets and wooded areas in the mountains of the Western Cape. It is up to 16 cm in length and the male and females look similar. Young birds are more heavily streaked on their underparts. The adult is grey-brownish upperparts, with a white throat and a black chin. It builds its nest with thin sticks, and lines it with down fluff from plants. Its song is a loud medley of sounds. Protea canaries are found in pairs or as single birds, and it is a shy species, preferring to stay within dense plant growth. It is a seed-eater, particularly of protea seeds and occasionally eats insects.
Orange-breasted sunbird, Anthobaphes violacea
Endemic to the fynbos biome of the Western and Eastern Cape, South Africa, these sunbirds prefer dense protea or erica stands. It is also found in coastal renosterveld, provided that there are enough nectar producing plants such as Aloe. Their eggs and young fall prey to cats, mongooses and mice, and are also eaten by other birds such as the common fiscal. It feeds on nectar of among others a selection of protea and erica species and small insects which they pluck from the ground or occasionally the air. The female builds the oval shaped nest on her own consisting of a sticks and twigs with a thickly lined interior. They lay their eggs almost all year round, but peaking from June to September. The 1 tot 2 eggs are incubated for up to 16 days. Although endemic to the region, these sunbirds are not regarded as threatened.
Cape Sugarbird, Promerops cafer
The Cape Sugarbird is one of the six bird species endemic to the Fynbos biome stretching from the Western Cape into the Eastern Cape. It is highly dependent on proteas for nectar and nesting sites. The grey-brown bird can easily be recognised by a spot of yellow under its tail. The males has very long tail feathers. The male is 34–44 cm long. The female has a shorter tail and bill, has a paler breast and is 25–29 cm long. The main flight feathers are arranged in such a way that when the bird beats its wings, it makes a sounds as it flies, with the aim to attract females. It has a complex song, including starling-like chirps and whistles, as well as harsh, grating noises. Widespread and abundant it is classified as a species of least concern.
This endemic and resident breeder, also known as the protea seedeater, white-winged seedeater or Layard’s seedeater of the Western Cape. This species is found in mature protea veld, intertwined valley thickets and wooded areas in the mountains of the Western Cape. It is up to 16 cm in length and the male and females look similar. Young birds are more heavily streaked on their underparts. The adult is grey-brownish upperparts, with a white throat and a black chin. It builds its nest with thin sticks, and lines it with down fluff from plants. Its song is a loud medley of sounds. Protea canaries are found in pairs or as single birds, and it is a shy species, preferring to stay within dense plant growth. It is a seed-eater, particularly of protea seeds and occasionally eats insects.
Orange-breasted sunbird, Anthobaphes violacea
Endemic to the fynbos biome of the Western and Eastern Cape, South Africa, these sunbirds prefer dense protea or erica stands. It is also found in coastal renosterveld, provided that there are enough nectar producing plants such as Aloe. Their eggs and young fall prey to cats, mongooses and mice, and are also eaten by other birds such as the common fiscal. It feeds on nectar of among others a selection of protea and erica species and small insects which they pluck from the ground or occasionally the air. The female builds the oval shaped nest on her own consisting of a sticks and twigs with a thickly lined interior. They lay their eggs almost all year round, but peaking from June to September. The 1 tot 2 eggs are incubated for up to 16 days. Although endemic to the region, these sunbirds are not regarded as threatened.
Cape Sugarbird, Promerops cafer
The Cape Sugarbird is one of the six bird species endemic to the Fynbos biome stretching from the Western Cape into the Eastern Cape. It is highly dependent on proteas for nectar and nesting sites. The grey-brown bird can easily be recognised by a spot of yellow under its tail. The males has very long tail feathers. The male is 34–44 cm long. The female has a shorter tail and bill, has a paler breast and is 25–29 cm long. The main flight feathers are arranged in such a way that when the bird beats its wings, it makes a sounds as it flies, with the aim to attract females. It has a complex song, including starling-like chirps and whistles, as well as harsh, grating noises. Widespread and abundant it is classified as a species of least concern.