- Leptocoma minima
Identification
8cm (3-3¼ in)
Male
- Iridescent green crown
- Yellow below with some white
- Maroon breast band
- Maroon back and sides of head
- Purple throat
- Crimson rump
Female
- Olive-green back
- Brown wings
- Yellow breast
- Crimson rump
Similar Species
Male looks similar to Purple-rumped Sunbird, but is smaller with broad carmine breast band. Flanks are yellow. No Metallic shoulder patch. Female by crimson rump.
Distribution
Western Ghats of India. Endemic.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
Several Sunbirds (including this one) of the genus Nectarinia have recently been moved into the genus Leptocoma.
Habitat
Forest, sholas, gardens, flowering trees and bushes in hilly evergreen biotope.
Behaviour
Diet
Their diet consists of insects, nectar and spiders.
Breeding
The two eggs are laid into a nest which is suspended from a branch.
Vocalisation
Call: chee-chee-which-chee.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2016. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2016, with updates to August 2016. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved March 2017)
- Wikipedia
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Crimson-backed Sunbird. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 6 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Crimson-backed_Sunbird
