Remembering my Sunbirds ...

Hi Chris, I adored the Sunbirds I had, the feedings and housing is not everyone’s cup of tea, nectar mixture, spiders and fruit flies etc. and they require individual caging ( aggression ). I had nine different  species, also a  spider-hunter, all cock birds, although I had a pair of BH Green Honeycreepers that did produce two youngsters. I only ever seen one hen for sale, a beautiful Splendid hen, I thought about obtaining her but I did not have a cock at the time, so I let it pass. I am hoping to rekindle with a few pair this year, but we will see what happens.  As you said about hens, with some closely related species, it can be difficult to tell the true hen species.  James.

Hi Chris, never had the space for that size of flight. Given adequate space a single cock would be safe enough, but more than one cock and even a pair in relatively smaller flights usually ends up.with a fatality. Like a lot Softbill pairs they must be watched, as a peaceful pair can turn nasty very quickiy, especially at the breeding season,  Best way I use is have the pair in adjoining cages / flights with a wire slide between them, with perching encroaching the slide so the cock can feed the hen, when the hen shows signs she is ready to mate, the side is removed, hopefully mating takes place and then refit the slide, this is repeated, usually until the hen has made a nest, then let her lay and rear the chicks on her own.  Although Sunbirds come from some very warm climates it can turn very cold at night, they are hardier than a lot of people think The main thing is to make sure they are acclimatised to the environment you intend to keep them. James.