Purple Sunbird Juv

Purple Sunbird Juv. (Cinnyris asiaticus) is a small sunbird. These feed mainly on the nector of flowers, although they also feed their young ones with insects. They have a quick direct flight and can also hover on the flowers like a hummingbird. Though usually they sit on the base of the flower. The males appear all black except in some lighting when the purple iridescence becomes visible. Females are olive above and yellowish below.

This small sunbird has a relatively short bill, a dark and short square ended tail with distinctive sexual dimorphism. These birds are smaller than 10 cm and have a down-curve bill with brush-tipped tubular tongues that aid in nectar feeding. The male is glossy metallic purplish black on the upper parts with the wings appearing dark brown. The breeding male has the underparts also of the same purplish black, but non-breeding males may show a central streak of black on yellow underparts.

Nikon Gear | 360 mm ~ 720 mm on 35 mm format | f/4.5 | SIO 200 | 1/800 second

At Keoladev Ghana Bird Scanctuary, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India | Janury 2014.

• Date

  26-09-2023