A blue sunbird: Colour variation as an arid climate adaptation in the Malachite Sunbird Nectarinia famosa

Authors:
Open Access
Publisher website
Google Scholar
Abstract
We observed, in a dense succulent thicket, a glossy blue-plumaged bird which we at first thought was a Cape Glossy Starling. We saw that this blue bird was accompanied by a sunbird with dark brown dorsal plumage and a white belly. The blue bird was then seen to be a sunbird as well. No matter which way it turned, clambering through the dense scrub, no green was observed, only a deep, royal blue. The blue bird was identified as a male Malachite Sunbird Nectarinia famosa, with aberrant plumage, and the second bird as a female of the same species. Why was typical metallic green plumage of this species blue? This paper makes suggestions. Birders need to be alert to this colour variation.

This publication has 7 references indexed in Scilit: