Birds · Passeriformes · Nectariniidae

Crimson Sunbird

Aethopyga siparaja

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The crimson sunbird is a tiny bird of southern and South-East Asia, the male showing an intensely scarlet breast and throat, an olive back and a metallic green crown. It feeds on nectar, spiders and small insects, and is a regular visitor to gardens. Its nest is a hanging pouch of fibres and cobweb with a porch above the entrance.

Weight

6 g – 11 g

Size

10 cm – 13 cm

Lifespan

7 years

Diet

Nectarivore

Feeds mainly on flower nectar.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

In pairs

Usually lives in pairs, sometimes for life.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

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Fun facts

Its nest is a hanging pouch of plant fibre and cobweb with a small eave over the entrance that works as a visor against the monsoon rain.
It pierces the base of flowers too long for its bill and drinks the nectar without pollinating the plant, a shortcut several American hummingbirds also use.
Like all sunbirds, it hardly ever hovers to drink: it perches on the flower or on a nearby stem, unlike the hummingbirds, which feed suspended in the air.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Forest edges, scrub, plantations and gardens of southern and South-East Asia
Sexual maturity: 12 months
Gestation / incubation: 14 days of incubation
Litter / clutch size: 2 eggs

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aethopyga_siparaja