Anthobaphes violacea
The striking Orange-breasted Sunbird is a nectar and insect-feeding bird that is endemic to South Africa’s fynbos biome, and as such occurs only in the Western Cape and western-most portions of the Eastern Cape coast. They’re mostly associated with natural stands of Protea and Erica plants, and will only occasionally visit gardens with flowering Aloe plants.
Orange-breasted Sunbirds are usually seen singly or in pairs, but they may on occasion congregate in enormous numbers at a rich food source. They may breed throughout the year, though there is a peak in nesting activity between autumn and spring. It takes the female about 3 weeks to construct the oval-shaped nest, with a side-entrance in a densely-leafed shrub, using soft materials and spider web. While the male defends the pair’s territory, the female is also solely responsible for incubating the clutch of 1 or 2 eggs for about two weeks, though both parents feed the chicks on invertebrates brought back to the nest until they fledge at approximately 3 weeks of age. The youngsters become independent about two to four weeks later. Fully grown they measure about 16cm in length but weigh only 9g.
The IUCN classifies the Orange-breasted Sunbird as being of least concern, while noting that their population is probably declining due to loss of habitat to invading alien plants.
DeWetsWild 
Vir die hoeveelheid kere wat ons al tussen die fynbos in die Wes-Kaap gestap het, is ek eintlik teleurgesteld dat ons die suikerbekkie nog so min gesien het. Ek weet daar’s verskillende soorte, en kan nie sê of dit hierdie spesifieke enetjie was nie. Maar hulle bly pragtig met hulle blink en mooi kleure!
Dis verbasend hoe maklik iets so kleurvol kan wegkruip as hy wil, ne!?
I echo the others in admiring your pictures of this delightful bird.
Thank you very much, Anne
Regte, egte sonvoëltjies. Kleurvol en stralend.
En nog soveel mooier in die regte lewe as wat die foto’s weergee, Ineke!
Beslis so. As ek my oë toemaak sien ek daardie blink kleurvolle veertjies in die son.
Small but beautiful. They remind me a bit of hummingbirds.
Good eye, Lois. While they’re not at all related to hummingbirds the sunbirds have a similar niche in the ecosystem.
Beautiful bird! Nice work!
We’re always grateful when they play along for a few photos, John