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Purple sunbird (male)

Cinnyris asiaticus (earlier Nectarinia)

Photo by SukanyaDatta
Published on Project Noah
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22.4833, 88.2856

Field Notes

Description:

This tiny nectar-loving bird is a joy to behold. The non-breeding male and female are similar in colouration but the male has a blue-black stripe running down the throat. Over time blue dots appear and spread (second photo) till the bird is an iridescent, metallic blue-black all over. This is called the breeding plumage. The drab version is called the male's eclipse plumage.
The fourth photo is that of a female purple sunbird on a Hibiscus flower (Hibiscus rosa sinensis)...the lack of a vertical throat stripe is clear.

Habitat:

Feeds on nectar and so, visits gardens. Makes a lovely purse-like nest there too.

Species ID Suggestions

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Photographed
PublishedApril 22, 2014

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