Crimson Sunbird
Aethopyga siparaja
A jewel of the garden shrubs, the Crimson Sunbird is a tiny nectar feeder. The male sports a brilliant crimson-red chest and back, metallic green crown, and long blue-green tail plumes.
Species Ecological Profile
Sourced from high-confidence eBird and regional field surveys
Forest margins, open shrubby hillsides, gardens, resort lawns, and blooming orchards. Prefers low flowering bushes.
Nectarivorous and insectivorous. Sucks sweet nectar from flowers (like Salvia, Grevillea, and Hibiscus) using its tubular tongue, and catches small spiders.
Resident with local altitudinal shifts. Moves down to sheltered warm valleys during cold winter snaps.
April to June. Builds a suspended, pear-shaped purse nest of dry grass, moss, and spider webs, hanging from thin twigs close to the forest floor.
Spotted frequently hovering near garden flowers and bottle-brush trees around Naukuchiatal cottages and forest edges.
Photographic Log
Visual field records captured in Naukuchiatal (Click to enlarge)
