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Okavanga — Variable (Yellow-Breasted) Sunbird
#sunbird #tanzania #variable #wildbird
Published: 2016-01-21 12:57:20 +0000 UTC; Views: 1873; Favourites: 120; Downloads: 28
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Description
(Cinnyris venustus)BirdiesIn this penultimate Journal about my Tanzanian Safari, I am returning to the avian world with some more images of birds - the big, the small, and the fancy.
You cannot go very far in the wild in Southern and Eastern Africa without coming across the largest of living birds - the ostrich (Struthio camelus). These guys are big at about 100 kg and standing 2 - 3 metres tall. Perhaps not surprisingly, ostriches are flightless birds, but they can run at an extraordinary speed of up to 40 mph (70 kph). The males in particular can be very aggressive if challenged or threatened, and can kill with powerful kicks, the claws on their feet being long and sharp. Beware any male ostrich whose legs are red, as this signifies he is on the look out for a bit of houghmagandie with a female (ostrich that is) and is in no mood to pass the time of day with anything else. So, next time you see a passing ostrich, check the legs! Male ostriches are a bit larger than the females with black body feathers, and th
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Comments: 38
Thank you very much, Mayumi. Indeed these birds are beautifully coloured.
David
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Sunbirds are engaging creatures and make good subjects for photography in that they sit still for minutes at a time!
Many Thanks
David
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No doubt a hard subject to capture...you are very welcome David...
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Thank you - sunbirds are generally very colourful, and their plumage always looks better in full sunlight. Unfortunately, this was an overcast day.
Cheers
David
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Beautiful shot, I have a question about the beak, is it curved for nectar, or for insects? Thank-you.
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Hi Dora - many thanks for the comment and faves. Good question about the beak. As I understand it, sunbirds are principally nectar feeders, but will eat insects, especially when feeding chicks. The curve in the beak allows it to reach deeper into the flower head than would occur with a straight beak.
Cheers
David
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Thank-you for the reply, and answer.
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Thank you, Robert. This type of curved beak is characteristic of the sunbirds.
Cheers
David
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Congratulations David, your photo has been chosen for the FEATURE FOLDER at Birds-And-Blooms
This is reserved for the very best Group Related Photos on DeviantArt that deserve to be shown our
Thank you for allowing your awesome image to be showcased in our gallery!
If you're not already a member please consider joining our awesome group!
Have a wonderful day
- Eruanna
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Whoopee! That's made my day. Thank you very much, Eruanna.
Cheers
David
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Thank you, Sheri - they are very photogenic birds.
Cheers
David
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I can see that...your welcome!
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No doubt about it, Katey, sunbirds are very photogenic!
Many Thanks
David
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the most colourful bird I've seen in my back yard was that male painted bunting a couple yrs back
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Stunning beauty!!
It is amazing how it can remain camouflaged I suppose, in the trees....It must look like just another lovely flowers amongst the branches.
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Yes, the camouflage thing is quite odd to our eyes, literally, but it is a bit like seeing those great camouflaged ships from WWII. Close up the markings are obvious, but at a distance they blend in to the seascape. Same here - yellows, blues, greens all blend together Of course, if you go looking for them, and get your eyes attuned then they stand out.
Many Thanks, Linda.
David
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Indeed. Wonderful analogy, David!
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Reminds me of an elephant joke - remember them? Why do elephants paint their toenails pink? To hide in cherry trees!
David
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I do remember indeed 
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Probably is the male, J, sexual dimorphism would make the female more drab.
Many thanks.
David
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