Crimson Sunbird

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Crimson Sunbird
Photo Information
Copyright: Ang Hwee Yong (Meerkat) Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 14 W: 0 N: 478] (2377)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-04-05
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D300, Tamron SP AF200-500mm f5-6.3 Di LD
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/80 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-05-04 0:57
Viewed: 305
Points: 8
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Crimson Sunbird

The Crimson Sunbird, Aethopyga siparaja, is a sunbird. The sunbirds are a group of very small Old World passerine birds 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.

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. The call is chee-cheewee.

The Crimson Sunbird is unofficially selected as the national bird of the Republic of Singapore.

*(Info from Wikipedia website)
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Su1976 (2)
  • [2008-05-04 3:28]

I like this photo. Well done! I know it's not easy to take a close-up of such a small bird. What's even more surprising is that it is taken in tiny Singapore! Must go to the Bukit Batok Nature Park one of these days :-)

Keep shooting!

Hi Ang,
Lovely colour match of the bird and flower.You have managed some great detail with a small subject. Nice impact shot.TFS.
erwin....

amazing colors, the throat of the bird got a little hot though

Another spectacular image, really nice shot! You caught the bird in an excellent pose, the color on it is amazing.

Thanks,
John

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