Some birds have such an admirable color combination, that we can’t get enough of them. This implies the Olive Backed Sunbird also. The Olive Backed Sunbird is also known as the Yellow-Bellied Sunbird and is scientifically named Cinnyris Jugularis. It is a species of sunbird found from Southern Asia to Australia.
The Olive Backed Sunbirds are small songbirds measuring 12 cm in length. Both males and females have bright yellow underparts and dull brown colored backs.
You may notice the only differences between males and females are that males have dark metallic blue-black forehead, throat, and upper breast.
The Olive Backed Sunbirds can be seen in flower gardens hovering around for nectar. You can also observe them with the butterflies, sucking nectar, just like the hummingbirds. But it might be hard to locate them because they take their nectar by hovering and perching only to feed.
We have compiled some stunning pictures of the Olive Backed Sunbird and its breeding and nesting habits. Read further to know more.
Breeding varies according to the region.
Birds often mate between April and August in the Northern Hemisphere and between August and January in the Southern Hemisphere.
They make a flask-shaped nest.
Both the males and females of the Olive Backed Sunbird assist in building the nest which is flask-shaped and has an overhanging porch at the entrance. It also has a trail of hanging material at the bottom end.
Nesting Time: they do not lay eggs immediately after building the nest.
There is an astonishing fact that after building the nest, they abandon it for about a week, and then the female returns to it and lays 1 to 2 greenish-blue eggs.
Hatching takes almost 2 weeks and during the period of incubation, females may leave the nest (during the day) for short periods.
Both parents assist in taking care of the young until the fledgling leaves the nest after 2 to 3 weeks.
Once the eggs hatch, both males and females take care of their young by feeding them until they become ready to leave the nest after 2 to 3 weeks of hatching.
The Olive Backed Sunbirds largely feed on nectar, although they also eat insects, especially when feeding their young ones.
However, they have short wings but have fast flight directed on their short wings.
The Olive Backed Sunbirds are very small Old World passerine birds.
There have been some subspecies recognized in the Philippines, where males have an orange band on the chest. In Northern New Guinea and Wallacea, some subspecies have most of the underparts blackish. Grayish-white underparts are also noticed in male species of Southern China and some adjacent parts of Vietnam.
If you like this article about the Olive Backed Sunbird, please share it with your friends and family to see this beautiful creature.
Have a good day ahead!
