A pair of Cape Sugarbirds swoop into a “pas de deux” pirouetting through the sky in a graceful aerobatic display.
This week’s WPC theme is “Dance”.
Cape Sugarbirds
Nature on the Edge
Wildlife photography along the urban edge
Nature on the Edge 
What elegant creatures, all dressed up with their long trains!
Yes, beautiful couture … hellish keeping their hems down in the strong winds though …
Look at those tail feathers! The last photo is a terrific action shot. He looks like he’s aiming straight for you, Liz!
Yes .. incoming 🙂 They remind me of gymnasts doing events twirling long ribbons.
Must have been lovely to watch. You must be the patient sort to get such photos! Thanks
Thanks Meg, yes their choreography in the midflight is quite a display! Patience – definitely required :). The trick is trying to anticipate their path flight – not so easy to get the timing right either.
It is amazing how birds with extra long tail feathers can fly and how they use this for aerial gymnastics. Great shots Liz!
Yes true, quite a showy technique – and quite tricky too when the wind is blowing 🙂
cool
Beautiful, Liz.
Thanks Jude.
What incredible tails – it must be something to watch them dance!
They’re fascinating little performers, even more radical when it comes to aerial display when defending territorial space.
I looked up videos of them and saw one where it had the flap-flap-fold wing sequence. Very interesting bird!
I’ve never seen a bird like this! What’s the purpose of the tail feathers? Aerodynamics? Mating? I’m going to google them to get the answers! I have no sense of their size from the photos. They look something like hummingbirds in body and beak. So unique and beautiful! Thank you, Liz!
Aren’t they showy little critters! Their distribution is limited being endemic to the Cape fynbos vegetation. They’re bigger than a humming bird, the males, which is larger than the female, grows up to 44cm (18 inches) in length – tails included. The role of the tail feathers is rather fascinating. Exaggerated ornamentation is apparently related to ‘extrapair’ mating – in attracting the females’ attention. Some interesting info here – http://beheco.oxfordjournals.org/content/21/1/26.full
What beautiful birds.
Thanks Maralee ; good to see drop by 🙂
so very smart: It is the first time I see this beautiful birds! Thanks your share that!
Aren’t they gorgeous! We’re lucky here, they’re endemic to our little patch in the Cape 🙂
Wow! Gorgeous birds and stunning photos.
Regards, Rosie
Thanks, Mz Rosie. Isn’t great that we can just nip through the ether and land in a different destination through this wonderful blogosphere! I enjoyed a quick look at your ‘cool’ Toronto. So lovely creative items there.
What beautiful birds to have in your locality and how obliging of them to perform for your lovely images.
Thanks for commenting Theresa. Yes we’re fortunate their aerial displays are fabulous. They’re precious too … been reading that they’re succumbing to the effects of climate change. Being endemic their range is limited…. worrying.