Fire-tailed Sunbird

Overview

The fire-tailed sunbird (Aethopyga ignicauda) is a species of sunbird in the family Nectariniidae. It inhabits temperate and subtropical forests across the northern Indian subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia.

Identification

• Breeding males display a scarlet nape and mantle, a yellow-orange breast, an olive-green belly, and a long scarlet tail.
• Total length is approximately 15 cm including the tail for males, while females are about two-thirds of that length.
• Females possess a grey-olive head and throat with a yellow belly, distinguished from similar species by a straighter bill and a squarer tail lacking white tips.
• Eclipse males resemble females but exhibit brighter yellow bellies, scarlet uppertail coverts, and scarlet tail sides.

Habitat

This species is found in the northern Indian subcontinent, primarily in the Himalayas, and adjoining regions in Southeast Asia, occurring in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Tibet. Its natural habitats include temperate forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, often residing in conifer forests at altitudes up to 4,000 metres.

Diet

The fire-tailed sunbird feeds on insects and nectar.

Did you know?

Both parents take part in feeding the young.