#sunbird

[herpsandbirds]

Temminck’s Sunbird (Aethopyga temminckii), male, family Nectariniidae, order Passeriformes, Borneo

photograph by William Ko

[todaysbird]

the amethyst sunbird, sometimes known as the black sunbird, is a passerine bird native to the afrotropics. they can make themselves at home in a diverse array of habitats, and are common in woodland, mesic savanna, and even suburban gardens. they occur more sparsely in dry areas, as they need plentiful nectar-bearing plants to thrive. their diet is almost entirely composed of nectar, insects, and spiders; the unique curved bill, a characteristic of sunbirds, allows the birds to more easily access nectar within flowers. they are sexually dimorphic, with males being primarily black with iridescent patches, and females being primarily brown streaked with buff markings. during the breeding season, the female works to build the nest, often in a eucalyptus or pine tree; they are typically attached to a drooping branch or hidden by foliage. nests are constructed of long, thin grass stems, held together with cobwebs. only two eggs are laid per clutch, but multiple clutches may be laid in one breeding season. subpopulations of amethyst sunbirds show variations in their resting metabolic rates, basal metabolic rate, and thermal neutral zones based on individual subpopulations’ acclimation to different altitudes. the birds more acclimated to high altitudes have lower metabolic rates and a larger thermal neutral zone. this means that, when needed, the amethyst sunbird is capable of altering their physiology in response to altitude & temperature to reach the ideal metabolic rate & temperature regulation for them to thrive in their environment.

[biophonies]

made in honor of the now-extinct population of Falasteen crocodiles, the sunbirds that almost lost their names, and everyone else surviving the attempted erasure.

posted the other week as part of an ongoing fundraiser offering free prints and paid, with 100% of proceeds going to Care for Gaza. it has since been translated, wheatpasted, and flown on kites all over the world from Saigon to Scotland...!!!

monetary donations are never a substitute for holistic political action, and a push for a different world... but the shows of solidarity and support have lifted my spirits so much.

this is now available on a t-shirt too, screenprinted by hand in Texas!same deal: all profits go to food, medicine, and other critical supplies via Care for Gaza (& the PCRF). thank you for sharing.

image description below:

a Palestine sunbird holds red poppies in their beak next to the text RIGHT TO EXIST. a Palestine crocodile (a subspecies of the Nile, now extinct thanks to occupying forces) guards a shining key next to the text RIGHT TO RETURN. a Palestinian olive tree, full of fruit is next to the text RIGHT TO RESIST. a Palestinian family of five, all embracing each other next to the text RIGHT TO REMAIN.

[corvidaemnit]

In order to show my support for palestine, I thought I would make a post— in typical bird nerd fashion— highlighting some information about one of the many symbols of freedom for the palestinian people: the palestine sunbird.

you’ve seen this bird everywhere lately I’m sure,

so, you may be wondering.. why is this bird so important?

In 2013, Israel campaigned to remove ‘palestine’ from the bird’s name. this failed, however, when the palestine wildlife society (PWS) petitioned to instead adopt it as palestine’s national bird as a direct defiance of the campaign.

in 2015, the palestine sunbird was officially declared the national bird of palestine.

the palestinian artist khaled jarrar designed a border control stamp featuring the sunbird with which he stamped passports as a cry for freedom.

more recently, khaled jarrar has also created these postal stamps for the same message— in defiance of israel’s efforts to erase palestine.

here you can find an incredible, short documentary detailing his work across the years to use his art as a protest against the plight of the palestinian people.

another palestinian artist, rasha eleyan, uses the sunbird in her work as a motif for the strength and boldness of palestinian women:

(source)

the palestinian poet tamim al-barghouti has tied the palestine sunbird’s beauty to resilience, in saying: “whenever you face injustice or roughness, remember to defend yourself by finding beauty… document, prove, and defend it because all beauty is resistance.”

the palestine sunbird is a symbol of hope and strength. It’s a symbol of fighting back against the odds and refusal to go quietly into the night— refusal to be erased.

continue to support palestinian artists.

continue to support palestine.

raise the voices of those who now, more than ever, need to be heard.

from the river to the sea, palestine will be free.

[samarajethwa]

[linsaangs]

My Pixels for Palestine iron-on patches are now available in my ko-fi shop! all proceeds will be donated to Care for Gaza for delivering fresh food to Gazans.

[a-disaster-piece]

Amethyst Sunbird / sometimes known as Black Sunbird (Chalcomitra amethystina), female; Garden Route, South Africa

Some Amethyst antics at the feeder, as they're finally showing up more often. Couldn't tell you how many of my photo attempts just end up showing their fluffy butts (crissum & vent are the scientific terms)!

[birdstudies]

February 9, 2026 - Splendid Sunbird (Cinnyris coccinigastrus) These sunbirds are found in a spotty range across parts of western and central Africa in savannas, gardens, coastal scrub, and forest clearings and edges. They eat nectar, seeds, spiders, and insects, foraging alone or in pairs, and sometimes gathering in groups in flowering trees. Males sing from perches and during courtship flights. Females build hanging pouch-shaped nests from fibers, leaves, grass, bark, down, and spiderwebs and incubate clutches of one or two eggs alone.