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Purple Sunbird (male)

Cinnyris asiaticus

Photo by SukanyaDatta
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

Tiny. Looks black from far or till sunlight strikes it when the iridescent blue shows.

Habitat:

On one of the two mango trees in the yard. Since I am confined to the house because of the lockdown all I can do is sit on the rooftop terrace and hope a visitor comes along. This season all the baby mangoes are dropping off; mango leaves are wet with a sticky exudate and even parts of the terrace under the leaves are wet...this bird appeared to be drinking the exudate.

Notes:

This bird usually comes to drink nectar from the honeysuckle plant in my garden. I see this species often enough.

Reference Links:

Purple sunbird - Wikipedia

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (4)
SukanyaDatta
Thanks Neil and you stay safe too. I am afraid I have a Mango hopper infestation and the exudate is a symptom (it also invites a black fungus)....the infestation is a first time thing ever since my father planted this tree some two decades back...there is nothing I can do to save the tree...we are in lockdown...
Neil Ross
Life is always much better when there's a mango tree in the yard, particularly if it's fruiting. They always attract a multitude of critters as well. Lovely spotting, Sukanya. And yes, stay safe.
Tukup
Beautiful in the sun. May he come to drink often while you're in lockdown. Thanks for sharing Sukanya. Stay safe.

Spotted for Missions

Mission
WILD Cities: Urban Biodiversity
Mission
Birds of the World
Mission
Biodiversity of West Bengal, India
Mission
INDIAN WILDLIFE
Photographed
PublishedMarch 29, 2020

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