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Orange-breasted sunbird

Orange-breasted sunbird

Anthobaphes violacea
Bird
The orange-breasted sunbird (Anthobaphes violacea) is the sole member of the genus Anthobaphes and is entirely endemic to the fynbos shrubland biome of southwestern South Africa, ranging from the Western Cape to the southwestern Eastern Cape. Males are striking birds with iridescent green, blue, and purple on the head and neck and a vivid orange-to-yellow breast; females are olive-green. The species visits more than 66 Erica (heath) species for nectar and acts as their primary bird pollinator in the fynbos; it also regularly visits Protea and Leucospermum for nectar, making it a keystone pollinator in the Cape Floristic Region. It is an altitudinal migrant that will use parks and gardens containing sufficient fynbos nectar plants, making it a realistic visitor to Cape garden designs that include indigenous heaths and pincushions.
Conservation
Listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, but as a strict fynbos endemic its long-term security is tied to the conservation of Cape Floristic Region shrubland.
Plants in the catalog
Nectar plants · 4
Bearded protea
Protea neriifolia
Documented
Listed as one of several documented Protea nectar sources for this sunbird.
King protea
Protea cynaroides
Documented
The king protea's account names the orange-breasted sunbird among the birds feeding at its flowers.
Pincushion protea
Leucospermum cordifolium
Documented
Documented among the sunbird and sugarbird visitors to Leucospermum pincushions in the Cape.
Whorl heath
Erica verticillata
Documented
The orange-breasted sunbird is the emblematic pollinator of fynbos heaths; Erica verticillata restoration projects explicitly aim to rebuild this partnership.
Range
Strictly endemic to the fynbos biome of South Africa's Western Cape and southwestern Eastern Cape, from Vanrhynsdorp south and east to Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth); absent from non-fynbos habitats and from the rest of sub-Saharan Africa. Elevational range sea level to approximately 1,530 m; moves to higher ground during the southern summer in search of flowering plants.

Sources & citations

Cite this page
Use this citation for the Plotwright wildlife page. The source cards below show the upstream references behind the taxonomy, range, conservation, host, forage, and habitat claims.
Plotwright. (n.d.). Orange-breasted sunbird (Anthobaphes violacea). Retrieved 2026, June 30, from https://plotwright.com/wildlife/orange-breasted-sunbird
Sources for wildlife facts
6 cited fact fields are backed by the source cards below.
Orange-breasted sunbird — Wikipedia
Monotypic genus, strict fynbos endemism, Erica/Protea/Leucospermum nectar foraging, altitudinal migration, and garden relevance.
Backs 5 fields
Taxonomy
Range
Conservation status
Foraging
Garden habitat
Anthobaphes violacea — Animal Diversity Web
Taxonomic placement of the monotypic genus Anthobaphes.
Backs 1 field
Taxonomy