Avian Demography Unit Department of Statistical Sciences University of Cape Town
SAFRING results
Sunbirds (Family Nectariniidae)
A ringing history of Sunbirds in southern Africa, 1948-2001
The Sunbirds, family Nectariniidae, comprise 118 species with 22 species in southern Africa.
Ringing totals and capture methods
Many sunbirds are easily trapped in mistnets at flowering plants. A total of 32600 have been ringed with SAFRING rings, although species with limited distributions have low totals. Mainly adults have been ringed. Many of the ringing records have not been computerised yet, and the species summaries are based on those records that have been computerised.
108 sunbirds have been recovered and 1234 recaptured. The greatest movement recorded is 360 km by a Scarletchested Sunbird (AB25569). The greatest elapsed time recorded is a remarkable 13y 11m 28d for a Whitebellied Sunbird (A97607) - the age is even greater (see species summary).
