Feeder Fodder

Suikerbekkie, by Another Name, a Hummingbird?

March 13th, 2007

Feeders,

A new friend in Cape Town, South Africa happened upon our website; he was searching for a durable hummingbird feeder to place in his father’s retirement village. We then began a series of e-mail discussions about feeders and hummingbirds.

After sharing these conversations with Dad (Dr. JB), he was amazed — because according to Dad’s research, hummingbirds are only found in the northern hemisphere. So we looked into this South African hummingbird a little more.

According to our South African friend, the native term for their most common hummer is “suikerbekkie.” Some quick online research showed me that there are a variety of “sunbirds” that are equated with suikerbekkies. I found tidbits of information on suikerbekkie and sunbirds in a variety of sources, and I liked the concise summary of “sunbirds” in the Wikipedia entry. Here’s an address:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunbird

Excerpt: “Most species can take nectar by hovering like a hummingbird, but usually perch to feed. … Although they are completely unrelated, the sunbirds find counterparts in the hummingbirds of the Americas and the honeyeaters of Australia. The resemblances are due to convergent evolution due to the similar nectar-feeding lifestyle.
Like the hummingbirds, they are strongly sexually dimorphic, with the males usually brilliantly plumaged in metallic colours. Sunbirds have long thin down-curved bills and brush tipped tubular tongues, both adaptations to their nectar feeding. Up to three eggs are laid in a purse-shaped suspended nest.”

Very interested in the differences between hummers and sunbirds, I again turned to my father, “How are hummingbirds distinguished from other birds that hover and feed on nectar”? He returned the following definition:

Sheri Williamson states in her book, Hummingbirds of North America,

“Of these characteristics, the one that sets hummingbirds apart from all other birds is their hovering, insectlike flight. Many birds, from ospreys to warblers, can remain stationary in midair for a few wingbeats, but only the hummingbirds have the ability to do so almost indefinitely, as well as to fly backward, straight up and down, and side to side.”

Can the suikerbekkie hover side to side, up and down, etc.?

A feeder is on its way to our friend, and he promised to take some photos for us. We eagerly await them, and will publish them here as soon as they arrive. But even then, my appetite for definition/distinction may not be satiated unless I can see a video of the sunbirds in flight. I have been unable to find such footage on the internet. Any help? Anybody have personal experience with sunbirds?

Thanks for all thoughts and contributions, and happy birding.

Chris Whelan

P.S. — I always have to disclaim when using Wikipedia as a research source, that we have to be careful accepting details in the entries. However, I am a big fan of “shareware” and especially of resources like Wikepedia that grow from the collective knowledge and experience of an increasingly shrinking world. Therefore, about Wikipedia, I always say this: Great for generalities; details should be confirmed by other sources; and please contribute your own facts to improve this amazing resource which serves as a living, growing manifestation of an increasingly integrated world. So, if you have anything to share about hummingbirds, sunbirds or any other subject matter, I encourage you to contribute your knowledge (with references) to Wikepedia.

Entry Filed under: Hummingbird News