Alternative name: Western Crimson Sunbird
- Aethopyga vigorsii
Identification
Tiny, only 11 cm long. They have medium-length thin down-curved bills and brush-tipped tubular tongues, both adaptations to their nectar feeding.
The adult male has a crimson breast with yellow streaks and a maroon back. The rump is yellow and the belly is olive. The female has a dark olive-green back, yellowish breast and white tips to the outer tail feathers.
Similar species
Generally darker and bigger-billed than Crimson Sunbird.
Distribution
Endemic to southwest India (Western Ghats from Kerala north to Narbada River)
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species.
It was formerly included in Crimson Sunbird.
Habitat
Found in forest, scrub and gardens below 1,800.
Behaviour
Feeds on nectar, insects and spiders.
Two eggs or three eggs are laid in a suspended nest in a tree. It's parasitised by the Asian Emerald Cuckoo.
Like all sunbirds this species has a fast and direct flight with their short wings. They can hover like hummingbirds, but usually perch to feed most of the time.
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
