Olive-Backed Sunbird

Size: They are tiny songbirds, more roundish with a shorter tail measuring only 11 cm long. The upper part is olive green which earns the bird its name. More significant would be the under part in bright yellow. The iridescent portion on this bird would be its fore head, throat and upper breast in blue-black. all these seen but that iridescent effect seen only in bright day light. On the male bird, there is actually an irregular thin rufous border to the black bib. Then, typical of all female Sunbird, this one also has plain colors.

Diet: They feed largely on nectar, although they will also take insects, especially when feeding young. Their flight is fast and direct on their short wings. Most species can take nectar by hovering, but usually perch to feed most of the time.

Distribution: Originally from mangrove habitat, the olive-backed sunbird has adapted well to humans, and is now common even in fairly densely populated areas, even forming their nests in human dwellings

Breeding: The birds mate between the months of April and August in the Northern Hemisphere, and between August and January in the Southern Hemisphere. Both the male and the female assist in building the nest which is flask-shaped, with an overhanging porch at the entrance, and a trail of hanging material at the bottom end.


After building the nest, the birds abandon the nest for about a week before the female returns to lay one or two greenish-blue eggs. The eggs take a further week to hatch. The female may leave the nest for short periods during the day during incubation. After the chicks have hatched, both male and female assist in the care of the young, which leave the nest about two or three weeks later.



*sources: malaysianbirds, wikipedia 


Male Sunbird:






Female Sunbird: