View source for Biology:Cape sugarbird

{{Short description|Species of bird}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Cape sugarbird
| image = Cape Sugarbird (Promerops cafer).jpg
| image_caption = Male in South Africa
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |date=2016 |title=''Promerops cafer'' |volume=2016 |page=e.T22717447A94532363 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22717447A94532363.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref>
| genus = Promerops
| species = cafer
| authority = ([[Biography:Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[Biology:10th edition of Systema Naturae|1758]])
| synonyms = ''Merops cafer'' {{small|Linnaeus,&nbsp;1758}}
}}

The '''Cape sugarbird''' ('''''Promerops cafer''''')<ref>Note: the name ''"cafer"'' is Modern Latin for Caffer, an adjective meaning South African, or of South Africa (Caffraria).&nbsp;<br/>{{ cite web |url=https://archive.org/stream/BirdNamesIndia/Buceros9_2BirdNames_djvu.txt |title=''A dictionary of scientific bird names originating from the Indian region'' |author=Aasheesh Pittie |access-date=11 September 2015}}</ref> is one of the eight bird species [[Biology:Endemism|endemic]] to the [[Biology:Fynbos|Fynbos]] [[Biology:Biome|biome]] of the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces of {{wipe|South Africa}}.<ref>Wright D.R, Lee A.T.K. 2017. Bird -friendly Habitat Management Guidelines for the endemic birds of the Fynbos Biome. Johannesburg, South Africa: BirdLife South Africa.</ref>

==Description==
The Cape sugarbird is a grey-brown bird that is easily recognisable by a spot of yellow under its tail and the very long tail feathers present in males. The male is 34–44&nbsp;cm long, and the shorter-tailed, shorter-billed, and paler breasted female 25–29&nbsp;cm long. Another characteristic of the Cape sugarbird is the sound it makes when it flies. The main flight feathers are arranged in such a way that when the bird beats its wings, a ''frrt-frrt'' sound is made with the intention of attracting females.<ref name=SASOL>{{ cite book |author=Ian Sinclair |author2=Phil Hockey |author3=Warwick R. Tarboton |name-list-style=amp |title=''SASOL Birds of Southern Africa'' |publisher=Struik Publishers |year=2002 |isbn=1-86872-721-1}}</ref>

==Distribution and status==
The Cape sugarbird is distributed throughout most of the fire driven ecosystem of the Fynbos in South Africa, the dominant vegetation type of the Cape Floral Region where there are flowering [[Biology:Protea|protea]]s and [[Biology:Erica (plant)|erica]]s. It is most common in areas that have not burnt recently, and almost absent from recently burnt areas.<ref name="Lee, A.T.K 2017">Lee, A.T.K, Altwegg, R. & Barnard, P. 2017. Estimating conservation metrics from atlas data: the case of southern African endemic birds. Bird Conservation International.</ref> It is also found in gardens in summer when most proteas are not in flower, but urban birds are associated with greater stress measures.<ref>Mackay, B., Lee, A.T.K., Barnard, P., Møller, A. P., & Brown, M. 2017. Urbanization, climate and ecological stress indicators in an endemic nectarivore, the Cape Sugarbird. Journal of Ornithology, 1-12.</ref> With a large population and extensive range,<ref name="Lee, A.T.K 2017"/> the Cape sugarbird is evaluated as Least Concern on the [[Organization:IUCN Red List|IUCN Red List]] of Threatened Species.<ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021" />

==Behaviour==

===Food and feeding===
The Cape sugarbird is a specialist nectar feeder when it comes to feeding off [[Biology:Proteaceae|Proteaceae]]. Its long, sharp beak is used to reach the [[Biology:Nectar|nectar]] of a variety of species of protea with its long brush-tipped tongue. The staple diet of this [[Biology:Sugarbird|sugarbird]] is nectar; however, it will also eat spiders and insects. The characteristic strong winds in the Cape may make feeding off protea heads difficult, but the Cape sugarbird has adapted to this with the development of sharp claws. If they become hungry they could resort to eating their own kind. <ref name=SASOL/>

===Breeding===
The breeding season for the Cape sugarbird is winter when food supplies are ample.<ref name=SASOL/> Breeding males set up territories in mature stands of Protea bushes, where they perform vocal displays.<ref>Lee, A.T.K. & Barnard, P; Hockey, P. 2015. Population metrics for fynbos birds, South Africa: densities, and detection and capture rates from a Mediterranean-type ecosystem. Ostrich. 86(1-2). 179-186.</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Cape sugarbird.jpg|Cape sugarbird
File:Promerops cafer 2.jpg|Female in South Africa
File:Promerops cafer 4.jpg|Male drinking nectar from a ''Protea cynaroides'' in South Africa
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{cite web |url=http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=8184&m=0 |title=''Cape Sugarbird - BirdLife Species Factsheet'' |author=Compilers Stuart Butchart |author2=Jonathan Ekstrom |work=Evaluators: Jeremy Bird, Stuart Butchart |publisher=[[Organization:BirdLife International|BirdLife International]] |year=2008 |access-date=June 6, 2009 }}
* Cape sugarbird - [http://sabap2.adu.org.za/docs/sabap1/773.pdf Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds].
* [http://www.nasmus.co.za/ornithol/promerops.html Cape sugarbird in Bloemfontein, SA]

{{Taxonbar|from=Q1002569}}

[[Category:Promerops]]

{{Sourceattribution|Cape sugarbird}}