|
Southern Double-Collared Sunbird
Southern Double-Collared Sunbird reveals its characteristic bright red collar above the narrower, shiny blue collar, Curry's Post, KZN, South Africa. © Scotch Macaskill Camera Gear: Canon EOS 50D; Lens Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM; Focal length 400mm; Shutter speed: 1/2000; Aperture: f/5.6; ISO 800; Exposure compensation: +1 EV The Southern Double-collared Sunbird (Cinnyris chalybeus) was previously called the Lesser Double-collared Sunbird. Theres also a Greater Double-collared Sunbird (Cinnyris afer) which is evidently quite a bit bigger, with a broader scarlet collar and longer bill. To me the one pictured above looks like a Southern Double-collared, but the red band is broader than on others that Ive photographed, yet doesnt appear quite broad enough for a "Greater". To confuse matters further, theres also a geographic variation of the Southern Double-collared called C.c. subalaris. It has a broader scarlet breast band, approximately two-thirds the width of the Greater, and a longer bill. So this could be a subalaris, as these birds are found in KZN, where I took the picture. The info about C.c.subalaris is from a new book, Roberts Geographic Variation of Southern African Birds, by Hugh Chittenden and David Allan, with beautiful artwork by Ingrid Weiersbye. Permitted Uses: See Terms of Use. Return to Garden Pictures |
|
Contact Details: Scotch Macaskill, Dirt Road Traders, Currys Post Road, Howick, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Tel: +27 (0)82 578 2329. Privacy: Your privacy is guaranteed. See our Privacy Policy for more. This site accepts advertising and other forms of compensation - see Disclosure and Advertising for details. Site updated: April 2017. Copyright © 2002 - 2017 Scotch Macaskill |
|
Comments
Have your say or ask any questions in the comment box below.