Observations of a nuptial display by Malachite Sunbirds

Abstract

Tuesday,1st August, 2017, at around 5.30pm, a male Malachite Sunbird Nectarinia famosa in breeding plumage, with yellow shoulder tufts displayed, and a female, were observed performing a nuptial display on a smooth, horizontal fence pole, approximately 75 centimetres above ground level. The post and pole fence runs along the edge of the wetlands bordering the Berg River estuary, at Velddrif, South Africa (Figure 1).