TY - JOUR AU - de Swardt, Dawie AU - Aphiwe, Kozana PY - 2021/12/13 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - Opportunistic avian nectarivory on flowering Aloe maculata with a review of visiting bird species JF - Afrotropical Bird Biology: Journal of the Natural History of African Birds JA - ABB VL - 1 IS - SE - DO - 10.15641/abb.v1i.1123 UR - https://journals.uct.ac.za/index.php/ABB/article/view/v1_6 SP - AB - <p>Eight bird species were recorded feeding on <em>Aloe maculata</em> (Soap Aloe) nectar at Biddulphsberg, Senekal, Free State, from 23–26 August 2021. Birds were mist-netted as part of a bird ringing study and aloe pollen was noticed on some birds. The flowering aloes attract mainly Malachite <em>Nectarinia famosa</em> and White-bellied Sunbirds <em>Cinnyris talatala</em> as well as Cape <em>Zosterops virens</em> and Orange River White-eyes <em>Z. pallidus</em>. Of the 108 birds ringed or collected, 34 birds (eight species) had aloe pollen on them. These species, including a first record of Black-chested Prinia <em>Prinia flavicans</em>, and a confirmed record of Streaky-headed Seedeaters Crithagra gularis, represent the first observations of birds probing <em>A. maculata</em> flowers.</p> ER -