Sunbirds, Genus Aethopyga
is a genus of birds in the Nectariniidae
family. Species in this genus are found in South Asia,
Southeast Asia and parts of China. Many species such as the
Grey-hooded Sunbird, Mount Apo Sunbird, Metallic-winged
Sunbird, Handsome Sunbird and Lina's Sunbird are endemic to
the Philippines.
The sunbirds are a family, Nectariniidae, of very small
passerine birds. There
are 132 species in 15 genera. The family is
distributed throughout Africa, the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast
Asia and just reaches northern Australia. Most sunbirds feed
largely on nectar, but also take insects and spiders, especially
when feeding young. Flower tubes that bar access to nectar
because of their shape, are simply punctured at the base near
the nectaries. Fruit is also part of the diet of some species.
Their flight is fast and direct on their short wings.
Some sunbird species can take nectar by hovering like a hummingbird,
but usually perch to feed.
Sunbird are active diurnal birds that generally occur in pairs
or occasionally in small family groups. A few species occasionally
gather in larger groups, and sunbird will join with other birds
to mob potential predators, although sunbirds will also aggressively
target other species, even if they are not predators, when defending
their territories.
It seems difficult to find information
and pictures about those sunbirds. Anyone who can help? |
Genus Aethopyga
Genus Nectarinia
| Enlish |
Norsk |
Latin |
| Bocage's Sunbird |
Fiolettsolfugl |
Nectarinia
bocagei |
| Malachite Sunbird |
Malakittsolfugl |
Nectarinia
famosa |
| Red-tufted Sunbird |
Lobeliasolfugl |
Nectarinia
johnstoni |
| Bronze Sunbird |
Bronsesolfugl |
Nectarinia
kilimensis |
| Purple-breasted Sunbird |
Regnbuesolfugl |
Nectarinia
purpureiventris |
| Golden-winged Sunbird,
|
Gullvingesolfugl |
Nectarinia
reichenowi
Drepanorhynchus reichenowi |
| Tacazze Sunbird |
Purpurkappesolfugl |
Nectarinia
tacazze |
| Orange-breasted Sunbird |
Purpurkappesolfugl |
Nectarinia
violacea
Anthobaphes violacea |
Gould's
Sunbird, Aethopyga gouldiae
Gould's
Sunbird, Aethopyga gouldiae
Photo: Mukesh Jain
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Aethopyga_gouldiae.jpg
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Gould's Sunbird, Aethopyga gouldiae,
is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Hong Kong, India, Laos,
Myanmar, Nepal,
Thailand, and Vietnam. Its natural habitats are temperate
forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.
In Bhutan it is found between 1,000 and 3,400 metres and we
found them mainly in forest with rhododendrons.
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The male has a crimson mantle and back with an iridescent
deep blue nape, throat and ear-coverts. The wings are
olive-green, the rump is yellow and the tail is blue. The breast
and belly is yellow with reddish streaks on the breast.
The female is olive-green with brownish wings and a shorter
bill than the male.
The Gould's Sunbiord is also called 'Mrs Gould's Sunbird'.
Mrs Gould was the wife of the famous British ornithologist
and
artist, John Gould and she helped to illustrate many of his
well-known books on birds.
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Crimson
Sunbird, Aethopyga siparaja
Crimson
Sunbird, Aethopyga siparaja, Assam, India.
Photo: Yathin S K
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The Crimson Sunbird, Aethopyga siparaja, is a species
of bird in the sunbird family which feed largely on nectar,
although they will also take insects, especially when feeding
young. Flight is fast and direct on their short wings.
Most species can take nectar by hovering like a hummingbird,
but usually perch to feed most of the time.
Crimson Sunbird is a resident breeder in tropical southern Asia
from India to Indonesia and the Philippines.
Two eggs or three eggs are laid in a suspended nest in a tree.
This species is found in forest and cultivation.
Crimson Sunbirds are tiny, only 11cm long. They have medium-length
thin down-curved bills and brush-tipped tubular
tongues, both adaptations to their nectar feeding.
Crimson
Sunbird, Aethopyga siparaja
Photo:
Ravi Vaidyanathan
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The adult male has a crimson breast and maroon back. The rump
is yellow and the belly is olive.
The female has an olive-green back, yellowish breast and white
tips to the outer tail feathers.
In most of the range, males have a long green-blue tail, but
A.s. nicobarica of the Nicobar Islands and the former
subspecies Western Crimson Sunbird, Aethopyga vigorsii
of the Western Ghats of India lack the long central tail
feathers. The call is chee-cheewee.
The Crimson Sunbird is the national bird of Singapore.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crimson_Sunbird |
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