loading...
A photo of a Crimson Sunbird (Aethopyga siparaja), male
Crimson Sunbird, Male

Crimson Sunbird

Aethopyga siparaja

The crimson sunbird (Aethopyga siparaja) is a species of bird in the sunbird family which feed largely on nectar. They may also take insects, especially when feeding their 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. It has also been unofficially announced as Singapore’s national bird by the Nature Society Singapore. Crimson sunbirds are tiny, only 11 cm long. They have medium-length thin down-curved bills and brush-tipped tubular tongues, both adaptations to their nectar feeding. 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 A. vigorsii (Western crimson sunbird) of the Western Ghats of India lack the long central tail feathers. Their call is chee-cheewee.
Birda logo
Download Birda for free and join the community of curious everyday people connecting with the natural world
Birda logo
Download Birda for free and join the community

Crimson Sunbirds on Birda

Photos

Sightings

A map showing the sighting location
Profile picture for Roelof van der Breggen
Roelof van der Breggen
Friday 11 Aug 2023 - 2:44am
Singapore
A map showing the sighting location
Profile picture for Ernest Alim
Ernest Alim
Wednesday 26 Jul 2023 - 2:03am
Malaysia
A map showing the sighting location
🐧
Laurie King
Saturday 01 Apr 2023 - 1:09am
Nepal
A map showing the sighting location
🐧
Laurie King
Friday 31 Mar 2023 - 9:09am
Nepal

As featured in

Connect with nature,
Find your flock
Download Birda - QR Code
© 2023 All rights reserved