Sunbirds

The Sunbird!

Among my recent sightings were the Sunbirds. They are bright coloured beautiful birds and are abundantly found in the lower hills of Shivalik Range of Mountains.

India has 12 distinct species of Sunbirds. Smallest sunbird is the crimson-backed that is only 8-cm-long and weighs as little as 4 grams. They feed on nectar of flowers but they feed their young ones insects. They have the unique ability to lower their body temperatures while roosting.

Sunbirds come with different hues with the males with distinct metallic colours.The colour of the iridescence changes with the angle of incident light such that a blue may suddenly appear green or black. Many have marked contrasts in their colours.

Though they are not known to have extraordinary vocal skills, one can hear their melodious songs, interspersed with whistles and wheezes.

The female sunbird lays up to three eggs in a purse-shaped suspended nest. The female builds the nest and incubates the eggs alone, although the male assists in rearing the young after hatching, sharing some responsibility. They often fall prey to cuckoos.

Both these were spotted in Chaki Modh, HP