Loten's Sunbird

The Loten's sunbird, also known as the long-billed sunbird or maroon-breasted sunbird, is a diminutive yet vibrant avian species endemic to the Indian subcontinent. Males are particularly striking with their glossy purple plumage and a distinctive maroon band across the breast, while females are more subdued with yellow-grey upperparts and yellowish underparts.

Identification Tips

To identify the Loten's sunbird, look for the male's long bill and maroon breast band, which can be seen under good lighting. The wings are a telltale brownish hue. Females lack the supercilium found in similar species and are generally less colorful. The male's pectoral tufts, a blend of yellow and crimson, are a spectacle during displays.

Habitat

These sunbirds favor the lush forests and cultivated areas of peninsular India and Sri Lanka. They are also quite at home in urban gardens, where they are a common sight, flitting from flower to flower.

Distribution

The Loten's sunbird is found exclusively in peninsular India and Sri Lanka, with a particular prevalence along the Western Ghats and into the southern peninsula. Their presence extends to central India and the northern Eastern Ghats up to Orissa.

Behaviour

The Loten's sunbird is a resident species, showing no known seasonal migration. It exhibits a preference for hovering at flowers when foraging for nectar, a behavior that sets it apart from the purple sunbird. They also consume insects and spiders, supplementing their nectar diet.

Song & Calls

The male Loten's sunbird serenades with a long, repetitive "wue-wue-wue…" that accelerates towards the end, reminiscent of the call of the cinereous tit. Their call is a distinctive buzzy "zwick zwick."

Breeding

Breeding season spans from November to March in India and February to May in Sri Lanka. The female is solely responsible for incubating the eggs, which she does for about 15 days. The nest, a remarkable bag-like structure woven from webs and bark, is often situated within the nests of social spiders.

Similar Species

The Loten's sunbird can be confused with the purple sunbird, but the former can be distinguished by its longer bill and the maroon breast band in males.

Diet and Feeding

These birds have a penchant for nectar, which they extract from a variety of flowers using their specialized down-curved bills and brush-tipped tongues. They also partake in small insects and spiders for sustenance.

Conservation status

The IUCN Red List categorizes the Loten's sunbird as Least Concern, indicating a stable population without significant threats to its survival at present.