Nectarinia osea - Palestine Sunbird
Feather characters. Barbules are rather short (0.70-0.73 mm) and divided into pigmented nodes and (partly) pigmented (more than 50%) internodes. Bell-shaped nodes are equally distributed along the entire length of barbules (40-46 per mm). They all are about the same size, slightly decreasing towards distal end. Villi are rounded and internodes are straight. Minute prongs are present on distal end of barbules and on both sides of the pennulum. Barbules have this typical structure for Passeriformes; pigmented, bell-shaped nodes combined with rounded villi.
Field characters. Size 11 cm. Weight: male 7.0 g, female 6.8 g (Cramp (chief ed.) 1993). Small songbird with long decurved bill. Male in breeding plumage dark-blue with metallic violet/blue/green iridescent sheen, dark-brown wings, and small orange patch at each side of chest (often hidden under wing). Non-breeding male like female, but sometimes with traces of breeding plumage. Female and juvenile grey-brown above and dull white below.
Voice. Has number of sharp calls, including 'ftift' and loud 'dju-wee'. Song is rapid series of high-pitched notes.
Distribution. Resident in Middle East and Arabian Peninsula; nomadic in winter. Map: see MapIt.
Habitat. Wide range of well-vegetated areas; from lowland gardens or river banks to rocky valleys or juniper-covered mountain summits.
Food. Nectar and insects.