This is one of our favourite garden birds, and we never fail to have one or two pairs in the garden all the time. Our favourite pair died recently after 4 years of a close friendship and we miss them. They were the friendliest and enjoyed us as much as we enjoyed them (they used to request twice a day showers from us). Have “immortalised” them in a book we recently wrote on garden birds. Their progeny continue to live in our garden.
The Brown-throated Sunbird is considered a generalist, favouring nectar (Wells 2007). In watching over more than 35 years I agree with this, but their behaviour favours what is available. In our garden they feed on insects, perhaps a little more than on nectar.
A list of the food I have seen them take in our garden includes:
Insects & Invertebrates:
1. Spiders
2. Caterpillars
3. Other small insects – spends a lot of time hunting in our Neem Tree as well as Rangoon Creeper
Nectar feeding sources:
1. Callistemon (Bottle Brush Tree)
2. Hibiscus species
3. Erythrina variegate/indica (Coral Tree)
4. Manihot glaziovii (Ubi Gajah or Wild Tapioca)
5. Celosia spicata (Cockscomb) - ? nectar or eating seed
6. Calliandra haematocephala (Powder Puff)
7. Spathodea campanulata (African Tulip Tree) - ? nectar or drinking water
Fruit
1. Mistletoe fruit
2. “Medicinal plant” fruit (do not know the name of this plant)
We have seen them intermittently at the Cockscomb Celosia spicata but are unsure if they are getting nectar or eating seeds. Have looked at all my pictures and dissected the flowers. I think it is nectar as they go for the young flowers. - Amar |