Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Bird Watching - Purple-rumped Sunbird

Purple-rumped sunbird



Purple-rumped sunbirds are tiny at less than 10 cm long. They have medium-length thin down-curved bills and brush-tipped tubular tongues, both adaptations for nectar feeding. 
The males have a dark maroon upperside with a blue-green crown that glistens at some angles, bright green shoulder patch and violet/purple rump patch which is generally hidden under the wings.The female and juvenile are duller with an olive-green back, brown wings, white throat and yellowish chest.

Local Names : 
Hindi : Shakarkhora / Pukudichan
Tamil : Oodha Pitta Thenchittu 
Malayalam : Manja Theankili

Scientific Name : Nectarinia zeylonica


Like other sunbirds they feed mainly on nectar, although they will also take insects, especially when feeding young. 




They pollinate the flowers of many plant species. Sunbird may indulge in dew-bathing, or bathing by sliding over drops of rain collected on large leaves.




The nest is constructed by the female alone out of fine plant fibers, cobwebs and is studded on the exterior with lichens, bark pieces, flying seeds and other materials. The nest is lined with soft fibers and placed on the end of branch. The average clutch consists of two oval, pale greenish and white eggs with spots and streaks that become denser at the broad end. Both parents incubate the eggs for 14 - 16 days and raise the young.







References
The Book of Indian Birds (Salim Ali)
beautyofbirds.com

Pictures:
Chettikulangara , Kerala (2018, 2019)
Chennai ( 2020)

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We might confuse this bird with another bird from the  same family, Loten's Sunbird. The Purple sunbird is found in the entire subcontinent - where as the Loten's sunbird is found in Southern India and Srilanka. In South India both the birds exist.
 The major difference is in the size and color. The Loten's sunbird is slightly bigger than the Purple sunbird. Bill is Longer and more curved for Loten's Sunbird, comparatively smaller for Purple Sunbird.

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