Birds · Passeriformes · Nectariniidae

Purple Sunbird

Cinnyris asiaticus

Least Concern

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

The purple sunbird is one of the commonest birds in the gardens of the Indian subcontinent. The male in breeding plumage is a metallic purple and blue that looks almost black depending on the light, and outside the breeding season he moults into an olive yellow with a dark central stripe on the breast. It feeds on nectar and small insects and is a regular pollinator of several garden plants.

Weight

7 g – 12 g

Size

10 cm – 12 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

The male has two plumages so different that they look like separate species: metallic purple in the breeding season and olive yellow with a dark stripe on the breast for the rest of the year, an eclipse plumage that is uncommon among passerines.
It is one of the most important pollinators in the gardens of the Indian subcontinent, and its presence is associated with the flowering of particular ornamental plants.
It robs nectar by piercing the base of long flowers, and in some gardens that behaviour markedly reduces the fruit set of certain plants.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Dry scrub, open woodland, farmland, parks and gardens of southern Asia and Arabia
Sexual maturity: 12 months
Gestation / incubation: 15 days of incubation
Litter / clutch size: 2 eggs

Sources consulted: https://www.iucnredlist.org/ | https://animaldiversity.org/ | https://es.wikipedia.org/