Seychelles sunbird (Cinnyris dussumieri), Cote d'Or, Praslin Island
This tiny bird, all of 11 cm long, is one Seychelles endemic that is happily not threatened. It lives off the nectar in the abundant flowers of the islands. Sunbirds occupy the Old World niche of hummingbirds in the New World (although they do not habitually hover). They are normally brilliantly coloured. However, in common with other Seychelles endemics, this sunbird species is dull in colour. This is thought to be an adaptation to render them less visible in the forest, thus reducing energy-wasting conflicts between rivals who will inevitably live in close proximity to one another on small islands. Which is a problem that species on the vast continent of Africa of course do not have.
100710 084
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All images are the property of the photographer and may not be reproduced, copied, downloaded, transmitted or used in any way without the written permission of the photographer, who can be contacted by registering with flickr and using flickrmail
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Seychelles sunbird (Cinnyris dussumieri), Cote d'Or, Praslin Island
This tiny bird, all of 11 cm long, is one Seychelles endemic that is happily not threatened. It lives off the nectar in the abundant flowers of the islands. Sunbirds occupy the Old World niche of hummingbirds in the New World (although they do not habitually hover). They are normally brilliantly coloured. However, in common with other Seychelles endemics, this sunbird species is dull in colour. This is thought to be an adaptation to render them less visible in the forest, thus reducing energy-wasting conflicts between rivals who will inevitably live in close proximity to one another on small islands. Which is a problem that species on the vast continent of Africa of course do not have.
100710 084
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All images are the property of the photographer and may not be reproduced, copied, downloaded, transmitted or used in any way without the written permission of the photographer, who can be contacted by registering with flickr and using flickrmail
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