Cinnyris mariquensis
The Marico (or Mariqua) Sunbird is a very active little bird that prefers open savannas dominated by thorn trees, though they’re ever more frequently being seen in parks and suburban gardens. Like other sunbirds their diet consists mainly of nectar and invertebrates.
Marico Sunbirds form monogamous pairs and breed from mid-winter through to late summer. It takes the female about a fortnight to build the pear-shaped nest using spider webs and plant material and then camouflaging it using anything from bark to droppings. She’s also the sole incubator of the clutch, with 1-3 eggs laid and hatched about 2 weeks later. The male only starts helping with the care of the chicks when they fledge, assisting with their feeding for several weeks after the youngsters take to the wing for the first time. Fully grown, Marico Sunbirds weigh around 11g and measure approximately 13cm in length.
In South Africa the Marico Sunbird is found in northern Kwazulu-Natal, most of Mpumalanga and Limpopo, northern Gauteng, the North West Province and much of the Kalahari regions of the Northern Cape. Beyond our borders they also occur patchily to as far north as Eritrea. According to the IUCN the Marico Sunbird is of least concern.
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