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Purple Sunbird

(Nectarinia asiatica)
Size: 10 cm

Sightings

One of only a few honey-eating species in the Arab world, the Purple Sunbird is regularly seen on the campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat. There they are found in large numbers all year round.

Photos

Up-front the amazing metamorphosis of male Purple Sunbirds - a direct comparison between breeding plumage (left) and non-breeding plumage (right); it is hard to believe that these are indeed birds of the same species

Frontal view of a male Purple Sunbird in breeding plumage

Here seen looking sideways...

... and here with its tongue sticking out

Close-up lateral view of a male bird in breeding plumage

Male Purple Sunbird in non-breeding plumage

The same bird as above, now seen laterally

Here it is checking out the photographer

Male bird seeking shelter in a shady place on a hot day

Male Purple Sunbird in non-breeding plumage seen from behind

Male bird moulting into its breeding plumage feeding on the flowers of a cactus; first have a look around...

... nobody coming from the other side...?

... then dig in!

Here, for comparison, a bird in breeding plumage

Purple Sunbirds are acrobats; no position is too difficult in search of an insect

In the process sometimes fresh shoots are knocked off the branches

Near-frontal view of a female Purple Sunbird

The same bird as above, giving a demonstration of its flexibility; a comparison of the two photos will show that this one has not been rotated by accident

Close-up lateral view of a female Purple Sunbird

Slightly different posture

Scruffy-looking, probably immature male Purple Sunbird seen in winter

Here the same bird, now seen from the side

Fledgling Purple Sunbird seen in late April

Here another fledgling bird, this one showing clear signs of suffering from 40+ degree heat

Immature bird foraging in algae

Nest

Here a close-up view of a Purple Sunbird's nest...

... now with one of its occupants keen on getting out

Habits

Male Purple Sunbirds undergo an amazing metamorphosis, changing their plumage between the seasons in a way that renders them unrecognisable.

Direct comparison between breeding plumage (left) and non-breeding plumage (right)

Here some interesting behaviour for a species of nectar eaters: This immature bird has clearly found something to its liking in freshly deposited algae scooped out of an oxygen-poor pond without natural outlet.

Immature Purple Sunbird poking through algae

Food

To the best of our knowledge Purple Sunbirds feed exclusively on nectar. They profit from the creation of urban gardens and parks with flowering plants.