The souimanga sunbird is a small passerine bird of the sunbird family, Nectariniidae. It is native to the islands of the western Indian Ocean where it occurs on Madagascar, the Aldabra Group and the Glorioso Islands.
Region
Western Indian Ocean islands
Typical Environment
Found across Madagascar and on nearby oceanic islands such as the Aldabra Group and the Glorioso Islands. It occupies a variety of habitats including forest edges, coastal scrub, mangroves, savanna woodland, plantations, and village gardens. The species is common in both lowland and montane zones and readily uses flowering ornamental plants. It is typically absent only from dense, unbroken interior forest.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 2500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
This small sunbird is an important pollinator, visiting a wide range of native and introduced flowers with its brush-tipped tongue. It adapts well to human-altered habitats, often frequenting gardens and plantations. Males are vividly iridescent while females are drabber, aiding camouflage at the nest.
Temperament
active and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with brief hovering at flowers
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly or in pairs, sometimes in loose groups at rich nectar sources. Pairs defend small feeding territories during breeding. The nest is a small, pendant, purse-like structure suspended from vegetation, and both parents care for the young.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
High, thin twitters and rapid, scolding chits interspersed with short warbling phrases. Males vocalize frequently from exposed perches near flowering plants.
Plumage
Male is iridescent with metallic green head and throat, dark upperparts, a contrasting dark pectoral band, and bright yellow underparts; female is olive-brown above with dull yellowish to greyish underparts and faint streaking.
Diet
Feeds primarily on nectar from a broad variety of flowers, using a brush-tipped tongue to lap nectar. Also takes small insects and spiders, especially when feeding chicks. Occasionally consumes soft fruits and arthropods gleaned from foliage and bark. It may visit flowering shrubs and trees in gardens as well as native flora.
Preferred Environment
Forages in flowering shrubs, canopy edges, and along forest margins. Common around gardens, plantations, mangroves, and coastal scrub where nectar sources are abundant.
