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Palestine Sunbird
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[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
I photographed one of these birds years ago through a window. This time I found it in a tree in spring. The birds are small, move fast, and not easy to get close to. Local often mistakenly call it a hummingbird, but it is not, and does not hover like hummingbirds, for example.
The Palestine sunbird is a small passerine bird of the sunbird family which is found in parts of the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa. It is also known as orange-tufted sunbird, a name which is also used for the similar orange-tufted sunbird, found further south in Africa.
Scientific name: Cinnyris osea
The Palestine sunbird is 8 to 12 cm long with a wingspan of 14 to 16 cm. Males have an average weight of 7.6 g and females weigh around 6.8 g. The bill is fairly long, black and curves downwards. The plumage of breeding males is mostly dark but appears glossy blue or green in the light. There are orange tufts at the sides of the breast which are hard to see except at close range. Females and juveniles are grey-brown above with pale underparts. Non-breeding males are similar but may retain some dark feathers.
It has a high, fast, jingling song and various calls including a harsh alarm call. |
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- lousat
(65489) - [2020-03-03 12:31]
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Hi Alan,excellent capture of this tiny sunbird despite the distance and the difficult location too,i like the brightness of metallic colors of plumage,well done. Have a nice evening and thanks,Luciano