Male 15-16 cm, female 13-14 cm; male 12 g, female 11 g. Sexes alike in plumage coloration.
Dull olive plumage with little contrast between upper and underparts. The yellow pectoral tufts (only seen in display)
are more prominent in males. Females lack pectoral tufts completely in the northern race sclateri (Zimbabwe and adjacent Mozambique). Status:
Common resident, largely sedentary but locally nomadic in response to nectar availability. Found singly or in pairs, unobtrusive; heard more often than seen. Habitat:
Evergreen forests, riparian woodland and wooded parks and gardens.Distribution:
East and se Africa. In s Africa, in eastern highlands of Zimbabwe and adjacent Mozambique; also s Mozambique, extreme se Mpumalanga, Swaziland, KwaZulu-Natal and E Cape south to East London, with vagrants at Grahamstown and King William's Town, E Cape. Food:
Nectar, spiders, insects and occasionally feeds small berries to chicks. Breeding:
fungus is utilized extensively in construction of the pendant-shaped nest. Host of Klaas's Cuckoo.