Birds · Passeriformes · Nectariniidae

Palestine Sunbird

Cinnyris osea

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The Palestine sunbird is the northernmost sunbird in the world and one of the most familiar birds in the gardens of Israel, Jordan and Lebanon. The male is a metallic blue and green so dark as to look almost black, with an orange and yellow breast band. It has spread markedly over recent decades, following irrigation and gardening into arid areas.

Weight

5 g – 8 g

Size

8 cm – 12 cm

Lifespan

7 years

Diet

Nectarivore

Feeds mainly on flower nectar.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

In pairs

Usually lives in pairs, sometimes for life.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

DesertGrasslandNectarivore Diurnal In pairs Bird Desert Grassland

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Fun facts

It is the northernmost-living sunbird in the world: its family is essentially tropical, and this species has reached the eastern Mediterranean by following the oases and, more recently, irrigated gardens.
Its recent spread north and west is directly tied to ornamental gardening: exotic plants with tubular flowers have opened up areas where it previously could not live.
It is the unofficial national bird of the Palestinian Territories and appears on stamps and in the emblems of several institutions in the region.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Oases, vegetated wadis, orchards, parks and gardens of the Near East and north-eastern Africa
Sexual maturity: 12 months
Gestation / incubation: 14 days of incubation
Litter / clutch size: 2 eggs

Sources consulted: https://www.iucnredlist.org/ | https://animaldiversity.org/ | https://es.wikipedia.org/