Funky Bird Cages

Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class Aves, characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, a high metabolic rate, a four-chambered heart, and a strong yet lightweight skeleton.

Purple Sugarbird

Purple Sugarbird

The Purple Sugarbird is a small bird species found in southern Africa. Here are some interesting facts about this bird:

  1. Appearance: The male Purple Sugarbird is a striking bird, with iridescent purple plumage on the head, throat, and breast, and long, thin tail feathers. The female is less colorful, with gray-brown plumage and a less prominent tail.
  2. Habitat: The Purple Sugarbird is found in fynbos vegetation types in South Africa, Lesotho, and Swaziland. It prefers areas with flowering protea bushes and other nectar-producing plants.
  3. Behavior: The Purple Sugarbird is primarily a nectarivorous bird, feeding on the nectar of flowers using its long, curved bill. It also eats insects and spiders, which it gleans from the vegetation. During the breeding season, the male performs an elaborate courtship display to attract a mate.
  4. Breeding: The breeding season for the Purple Sugarbird is from August to January. The female builds a small, cup-shaped nest out of plant fibers and spider webs, which are usually located in a tree or shrub. She lays 1-3 eggs, which she incubates for about 13-15 days. Both parents take turns feeding the chicks, which fledge after about 18-21 days.
  5. Conservation Status: The Purple Sugarbird is classified as a species of Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). However, the species is declining in some areas due to habitat loss and fragmentation caused by agriculture and urbanization.

The Purple Sugarbird is a beautiful and fascinating bird species that is popular among birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts. Its iridescent purple plumage and nectar-feeding behavior make it a unique addition to the birdlife of southern Africa.

Scientific Name: Cyanerpes caeruleus

Origin: Guyana

The Purple Sugarbird is one of the most attractive and brightly colored of the sugarbird species. It is a delicate bird and must be carefully acclimatized. The Pimple Sugarbird may be kept as a single pair with other small soft bill or seed-eating species. Several cock birds may be kept together with other birds. Do not keep more than one pair of sugar birds with their kind or other species, because fights may occur.

An indoor aviary in winter is a must and heat are required. In warm summer months, this sugar bird lives happily outside in a planted flight. It can live in captivity for 10 to 12 years under the right conditions.

Description:

Size: 13 cm (5 in)

COCK:

Body: purple-blue. Ear coverts: black. Wings, throat, and tail: black. Beak: black. Legs and feet: yellow with black claws.

HEN:

Body: green. Throat: chestnut. Under-parts: pale yellow with green markings. The throat has pale violet-blue mustache markings at the sides. Lures: chestnut. Beak: dark brown. Legs and feet: greenish-brown.

Diet: (Softbill)

The diet should be as varied as possible. The fine-grade insectile mix should be fed together with a wide selection of fruit, including oranges, bananas, and pears. It likes to feed on fruit suspended on a stout thread near perching spots, which keeps the food clean and minimizes fouling by droppings. Water mixed with just enough honey to color it should be supplied to drinkers positioned well above ground level. Mealworms, fresh ants’ eggs, hard-boiled egg mash, cooked mashed potato, and boiled rice mixed with honey are all enjoyed. Stale, soaked bread, sponge cake, or rusks may be crumbled into a honey and water mix.

Breeding:

Purple SugarbirdThis species is not easy to breed. Nests are made of plant fibers suspended in tall bushes and a well-planted conservatory may encourage a pair to go to nest. Two or three small, white eggs are laid. The incubation period may vary between 14 and 21 days. Molting normally occurs twice a year, although cocks have been known to go an entire season without molting.

Purple Sugarbird Information

The Purple Sugarbird (Cyanomitra purpura) is a small bird species found in southern Africa, specifically in South Africa, Lesotho, and Swaziland. Here are some key facts and information about this species:

  1. Appearance: The male Purple Sugarbird has a unique and striking appearance, with bright purple plumage on its head, throat, and upper breast, contrasting with a greenish-blue iridescence on its lower breast and back. It has a long, curved bill that it uses to extract nectar from flowers and elongated tail feathers that add to its overall length of about 15 cm (6 inches). The female is less colorful, with a brownish-gray body and a short tail.
  2. Habitat: The Purple Sugarbird is typically found in fynbos and renosterveld vegetation types in the Western and Eastern Cape regions of South Africa, often in areas with protea and other flowering plants that provide nectar for the bird to feed on. It can also occur in gardens and parks with suitable flowering vegetation.
  3. Behavior: The Purple Sugarbird is primarily a nectarivorous bird, using its long, curved bill to extract nectar from flowers. It also eats insects and spiders, which it gleans from the vegetation. During the breeding season, the male performs an elaborate courtship display to attract a mate.
  4. Breeding: The breeding season for the Purple Sugarbird is from August to January. The female builds a small, cup-shaped nest out of plant fibers and spider webs, which are usually located in a tree or shrub. She lays 1-3 eggs, which she incubates for about 13-15 days. Both parents take turns feeding the chicks, which fledge after about 18-21 days.
  5. Conservation status: The Purple Sugarbird is classified as a species of Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). However, the species is declining in some areas due to habitat loss and fragmentation caused by agriculture and urbanization.
  6. It is a singing bird and the male bird is always singing. The sound produced by the bird is very sweet and will not be noisy for anyone.
  7. The birds breed is not suitable for novice pet owners. For beginner bird owners one may at first start with other soft-billed bird species.
  8. The purple sugarbird is an excellent show bird. The male and the juvenile birds of this specie have won several bird show competitions as they love to display themselves in front of judges.

Overall, the Purple Sugarbird is a unique and beautiful bird species that plays an important role in pollination and seed dispersal in its habitat. Its nectar-feeding behavior and striking appearance make it a favorite among birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts in southern Africa.

While buying the bird you may not have to worry about the condition of a feather. If the bird which is almost devoid of feathers is healthy would re-grow them at the right time. But you must be careful about the skin of the bird. The skin of the bird must be smooth and should not have any scratches on the skin’s surface.

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