English name: Palestine SunbirdScientific name: Cinnyris osea
Lifespan: Typically 5–8 yearsDistribution: Eastern Mediterranean, the Levant, and the Arabian PeninsulaStatus in Lebanon: Resident and wintering speciesLegal status: Not a game species; protected as a wild bird (the responsible hunter does not shoot it, but protects it)
Characteristics and Behavior:
The male displays striking iridescent plumage that shifts between blue, green, and violet depending on the angle of light, with a pronounced metallic sheen under sunlight. The iridescent throat is the most distinctive feature, giving the bird a vivid and unmistakable appearance. The female, by contrast, has subdued olive-brown coloration that provides effective camouflage during nesting.
Unlike most bird species recorded in Lebanon, this species shows a northward seasonal movement during winter. It is highly agile, moving swiftly among flowers and branches, while males perform short aerial displays during the breeding season to attract females.
Occasionally, it is observed mimicking the calls of other bird species, a behavior that may help it avoid predators or compete for resources.
Ecological Benefits:
The species feeds primarily on flower nectar, using a slender bill and a long, extendable tongue, making it an efficient pollinator of wild and cultivated plants, particularly in urban and semi-natural environments. It also consumes insects and spiders, especially during the breeding season, contributing to insect population control and providing essential protein for chick development.
It inhabits gardens, parks, light woodlands, and grasslands, and has become a familiar sight on balconies planted with flowering vegetation, especially in coastal areas. The female builds a small cup-shaped nest from plant fibers and spider silk, usually concealed within dense shrubs to protect eggs and nestlings.
Scientific References
- BirdLife International – Species Factsheet: Palestine Sunbird (Cinnyris osea)https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/palestine-sunbird-cinnyris-osea
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species – Cinnyris oseahttps://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22717623
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive – Sunbirds (Lynx Edicions)https://www.hbw.com
- Shirihai, H. (1996). The Birds of Israel. Academic Press
