Palestine Sunbird

Overview

The Palestine sunbird (Cinnyris osea) is a small passerine bird in the sunbird family, Nectariniidae. Also known as the northern orange-tufted sunbird, it is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Measures 8 to 12 cm in length with a wingspan of 14 to 16 cm, and males weigh on average 7.6 g.
• Features a fairly long, black bill that curves downwards.
• Breeding males have dark plumage that appears glossy blue or green, with hard-to-see orange tufts on the sides of the breast.
• Females and juveniles are grey-brown above with pale underparts, while non-breeding males may retain some dark feathers.
• Produces a high, fast, jingling song along with a harsh alarm call.

Habitat

Inhabits areas with high temperatures and dry climates from sea level up to 3200 m altitude, including dry woodland, scrub, wadis, savannas, orchards, and gardens. It is common in towns in some regions, where the expansion of Israeli settlements and the planting of tropical plants have facilitated its spread across the Middle East. The Middle Eastern subspecies breeds from Israel and Jordan down to Yemen and Oman, while the African subspecies is found locally in parts of Sudan, Uganda, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Cameroon.

Diet

Feeds mainly on insects and nectar, using a long, brush-tipped tongue to extract nectar from flowers.

Did you know?

In 2015, the Palestinian Authority adopted the Palestine sunbird as its national bird following its loss in a 2008 public vote in Israel, where the hoopoe was chosen instead.