[3] The Cape sugarbird was formally described in 1758 by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae.

[4][5] Linnaeus specified the type locality as Ethiopia but this was changed to the Cape of Good Hope by the French zoologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson in 1760.

The main flight feathers are arranged in such a way that when the bird beats its wings, a frrt-frrt sound is made with the intention of attracting females.

[11] With a large population and extensive range,[10] the Cape sugarbird is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

[9] Breeding males set up territories in mature stands of Protea bushes, where they perform vocal displays.