Cape sugarbird
Promerops cafer
Bird
The Cape sugarbird is a long-tailed, decurved-billed passerine endemic to the fynbos biome of South Africa's Western and Eastern Cape, where it is one of only a handful of birds confined to this biodiversity hotspot. Breeding males carry an exceptionally elongated tail that can reach two to three times their body length. As a specialist nectarivore of the protea family (Proteaceae), it is a primary pollinator of many Protea species, visiting up to 300 flowers a day and carrying pollen on its bill and face between inflorescences; it also forages nectar at pincushions (Leucospermum) and other fynbos flowers. Gardens within the Cape Floristic Region that grow flowering proteas and pincushions will draw sugarbirds.
Conservation
Classified as Least Concern by the IUCN: it has a large population and extensive range within the fynbos biome, though local populations are affected by invasive alien shrubs and by too-frequent fire that eliminates the mature protea stands it depends on.
Plants in the catalog
Plants this species pollinates · 1
A primary bird pollinator of king protea: the sugarbird pushes its bill deep into the inflorescence, coating its face with pollen that it carries to the next flower.
Nectar plants · 1
SANBI notes the early-morning nectar flow of pincushion attracts the Cape sugarbird and several sunbird species.
Range
Endemic to the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa, restricted to fynbos vegetation from near Nieuwoudtville in the northwest across the Western Cape and into the Eastern Cape as far as the Amatola Mountains.
Sources & citations
Cite this page
Use this citation for the Plotwright wildlife record. Use the source cards below to explore the references that informed its taxonomy, range, conservation, host plants, foraging, and habitat.
Plotwright. (n.d.). Cape sugarbird (Promerops cafer). Retrieved 2026, August 20, from https://plotwright.com/wildlife/cape-sugarbird
Sources used for this record
This record is compiled from the sources below.
Cape sugarbird - Wikipedia
Taxonomy (Promeropidae), IUCN Least Concern status, fynbos range, nectar specialization on Proteaceae, and winter breeding in mature protea stands.
Protea cynaroides - Wikipedia
Names Promerops cafer as a pollinator of king protea and describes the bill-into-inflorescence pollen-transfer mechanism.
GBIF: Promerops cafer
GBIF matches Promerops cafer exactly as an accepted species at usageKey 5229963.
iNaturalist: Promerops cafer
iNaturalist taxon 13442 matches Promerops cafer exactly at species rank, the cape sugarbird.