Avian Demography Unit
Department of Statistical Sciences
University of Cape Town
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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).

Individual species ringing histories

761 Neergaard's Sunbird Nectarinia neergaardi

Three have been ringed. X65786 and AB81862 were ringed in Maputo in May 1990 by Mr P Nilsson. X86117 was ringed at an unknown location by Mr F Douwes.

769 Bluethroated Sunbird Anthreptes reichenowi

None have been ringed.

770 Violetbacked Sunbird Anthreptes longuemarei

16 have been ringed, but none of these records have been computerised.

1068 Greenheaded Sunbird Nectarinia verticalis

2 were ringed in NE Zambia by Pete Leonard, Dec 1999 (W15456-57).

1073 Souimanga Sunbird Nectarinia sovimanga

6 males were ringed on Aldabra Island by Ross Wanless, 5 in Oct 1999 and 1 in Feb 2000 (W45501-06).

1088 Bannerman's Sunbird Nectarinia bannermani

2 males were ringed in W Zambia by Pete Leonard, 1 in Dec 2001 (GA13890), 1 in Jan 2002 (GA13895).

1095 Principe Sunbird Nectarinia (Anabathmis) hartlaubii

3 were ringed on Principe Island by Martim Melo, in Nov 1998 (AF47802+08, W38501).

References

Also see individual species accounts.

Skead CJ. 1967. Sunbirds of Southern Africa. South African Bird Book Fund, Cape Town.


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Last updated 3-Dec-2003