The Holy Land is home to the special and exclusive breed of the family Nectariniidae—the Palestine Sunbird. It’s a passerine bird of the sunbird family comfortably nested in the Holy Land, parts of the Middle-East and sub-Saharan Africa. The Palestine Sunbird is also known as the Orange-tufted Sunbird, for the orange tufts at the sides of the breast.
The Palestine Sunbird commonly settles in areas with a dry climate and high temperatures. You can find these feathered musicians in savannas, orchards, scrub, dry woodland, gardens and wadis. The Palestine Sunbird can also be spotted in certain towns throughout the Holy Lands.
The Palestine Sunbird ranges from 8 to 12 cm in length and has a wingspan of approximately 14 to 16 cm. The Palestine Sunbird is distinguished by its long black bill which curves downwards. The male Palestine Sunbird is outfitted with black feathers that transform into a glossy green or blue in sunlight. The female and baby Palestine Sunbirds have grey-brown plumage with a pale underside.
Listen to how the Palestine Sunbird sings: http://ibc.lynxeds.com/sound/palestine-sunbird-cinnyris-osea/adult-male-singing
Similar to the hummingbird, the Palestine Sunbird sometimes feeds while hovering over flowers. Generally, though, they are perched beside a flower when they feed. Their tongue is long and has a brush-tip in order to extract the nectar from the flowers. The Palestine Sunbird’s diet is comprised of insects and nectar.
The nest of the Sunbird is like none other: it’s shaped like a purse and is made of leaves, grass and other plants—then it’s strung together by hair and spider webs, with wool and feather lining the inside of the nest.
