A common, very attractive sight in many gardens as he flits from flower to flower, standing out his stunning red plumage, iridescent blue cap, and “mustache!

Meet the Crimson sunbird

Photo Courtesy of Lip Kee / CC BY-SA 2.0

The crimson sunbird (Aethopyga siparaja), is a species of bird in the sunbird family with medium-length thin down-curved bills and brush-tipped tubular tongues, both adaptations to their nectar feeding. The adult male has a bright red throat, chest, and flanks. He also has deep blue mustache-like stripes. His back is maroon-colored, his rump yellow, his abdomen olive-colored. Hid look is finished off with a blue-green tail with white tips on the outer tail feathers.

In comparison to the male, the adult female is duller in color.

She has an olive-green back, yellowish chest, and white tips to the outer tail feathers.

Photo Courtesy of Lip Kee / CC BY-SA 2.0/

The crimson sunbird is a resident breeder in tropical southern Asia from India, through to Nepal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, down into Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam.

Photo Courtesy of shrikant rao / CC BY 2.0

Crimson sunbirds like to dine primarily on nectar, though they will eat insects during the breeding season to feed their young as well as satisfy their own need for protein during this time.

Photo Courtesy of Lip Kee / CC BY-SA 2.0/

Crimson sunbird males and females build a purse-shaped, moss-covered nest together – although the female takes on the part of lining the nest. The nest is often suspended from the underside of large fern fronds or the thin branches of a low tree or shrub. An average clutch consisting of up to 3 eggs is laid within, which are mostly incubated by the female for about 18 – 19 days. The male assists with feeding the young.

Photo Courtesy of Imran Shah / CC BY-SA 2.0/

Due to their wide range and stable population, the Crimson sunbird’s current population is not thought to be under any threat.

Photo Courtesy of Lip Kee / CC BY-SA 2.0

Watch and listen to this bird right here in the video below: