Any one who has visited Africa will have delighted in these beautiful "gems" With their iridescent flashes of colour they are a delight to the eye. When the Aloes are flowering they are particularly noticeable as they feed on the nectar and at the same time play an important part in pollination. This is a Scarlet Sunbird (male) - one of my favourites - but as is common with many birds the females are a dowdy brown.