Cape Sugarbird

Promerops cafer (Linnaeus, 1758)

Promeropidae — Sugarbirds

Cape Sugarbird, Promerops cafer, is a bird of South Africa’s Fynbos, especially the Western Cape and Eastern Cape. It is part of the sugarbird family and was first described by Linnaeus in 1758. The species is closely tied to the fire-shaped Cape Floral Region, where proteas and ericas grow. It is most often seen in areas that have not burnt recently, and it is scarce soon after fire. Males have very long tail feathers and a yellow patch beneath the tail, which help set the bird apart.

Order
Passeriformes
Family
Promeropidae — Sugarbirds
Breeding range
Africa: South Africa
Cape Sugarbird
© Ken and Nyetta · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

Tours where you can spot this bird

10 tours in South Africa

Western Cape Highlights Birding with Lawson's Safaris
Western Cape Highlights Birding with Lawson's Safaris
South Africa / Cape Town Group tour 10 days

Discover Western Cape birds over 10 days, combining Cape Peninsula fynbos, penguin colonies, West Coast wetlands and the Overberg with food ...

From ZAR 55,890 Next: Oct 13, 2027
Western South Africa Endemics with Lawson's Safaris
Western South Africa Endemics with Lawson's Safaris
South Africa / Upington Group tour 13 days

Trace western South Africa’s endemic birds for 13 days from Upington and Augrabies through Namaqualand, the Karoo, Cape coast and Garden R...

From ZAR 79,700 Next: Oct 31, 2026
Private Kirstenbosch and False Bay Birding Day Tour
Private Kirstenbosch and False Bay Birding Day Tour
South Africa / Cape Town 1 day

A private Cape Town day combining Kirstenbosch’s forest and fynbos birds with the rich waterfowl and waders of Strandfontein in False Bay ...

3-Day Cape Town Birding Tour
3-Day Cape Town Birding Tour
South Africa / Cape Town Private tour 3 days

Spend three days linking Cape Town fynbos, False Bay, endemic-rich mountain slopes, penguin coast and the Cape Peninsula....

Western Cape Birding Day Trips
Western Cape Birding Day Trips
South Africa / Cape Town Group tour 1 day

Custom private and small-group birding day trips around Cape Town, the Western Cape, fynbos, wetlands, coast and nearby reserves....

10-Day Western Cape Birding Tour
10-Day Western Cape Birding Tour
South Africa / Cape Town Private tour 10 days

A private or small-group Western Cape birding itinerary from Cape Town through the Cape Peninsula, West Coast, Tankwa Karoo, Agulhas Plain, ...

Private Cape Peninsula Birding Day Tour with Birding Ecotours
Private Cape Peninsula Birding Day Tour with Birding Ecotours
South Africa / Cape Town Private tour 1 day

A flexible private day from Cape Town combining Kirstenbosch, peninsula wetlands and an African Penguin colony, with Cape endemics and coast...

From ZAR 7,000
Private Cape Mountains and Fynbos Birding Day Tour with Birding Ecotours
Private Cape Mountains and Fynbos Birding Day Tour with Birding Ecotours
South Africa / Cape Town Private tour 1 day

A private full-day route from Cape Town to Rooi Els, Betty's Bay and the fynbos coast, focused on Cape endemics, African Penguins and wetlan...

From ZAR 7,000
Private 3-Day Tankwa Karoo Birding Tour with Birding Ecotours
Private 3-Day Tankwa Karoo Birding Tour with Birding Ecotours
South Africa / Cape Town Private tour 3 days

A private three-day circuit from Cape Town through Ceres into the Tankwa Karoo for arid-zone endemics, canyon specialists and optional night...

From ZAR 17,550
Private 3-Day Agulhas Plains Birding Trip with Birding Ecotours
Private 3-Day Agulhas Plains Birding Trip with Birding Ecotours
South Africa / Cape Town Private tour 3 days

A private three-day journey from Cape Town across mountain fynbos and the Overberg to De Hoop, built around cranes, bustards, larks and regi...

From ZAR 17,920