coral flower & white bellied sunbirds | watercolour & ink

The Coral Tree (Erythrina species) is one of Africa’s most striking flowering trees, bursting into vivid red blooms that appear even before the leaves flush out. These bold, tubular flowers are rich in nectar and perfectly shaped for one of their most important partners — sunbirds. Sunbirds play a crucial role in pollinating the Coral Tree. Drawn by the abundant nectar, they hover or perch at the base of each blossom, inserting their slender, curved bills deep into the flower. As they feed, pollen dusts their foreheads and throats. When they move to the next bloom, they transfer that pollen, allowing the tree to set seed and continue its life cycle. Without sunbirds, the Coral Tree’s reproduction would be far less successful; without the tree, sunbirds would lose one of their most dependable seasonal nectar sources. It’s a beautifully balanced partnership — the tree offering food, the birds ensuring its future.