Temminck's Sunbird

Fascinating facts about the Temminck's Sunbird

• Temminck's sunbird lives in tropical moist montane forests up to about 1800 m altitude. It is recorded from Borneo, Sumatra, West Malaysia and southwestern Thailand.
• The common name and scientific designation of this bright scarlet bird were chosen to honour the Dutch aristocrat and zoologist Coenraad Jacob Temminck. By attaching his surname to both the English and Latin names, the bird permanently carries his legacy wherever it is mentioned.
• Taxonomists have at times treated Temminck's sunbird as the same species as the Javan sunbird, Aethopyga mystacalis, grouping them under a single taxonomic identity. This conspecific view meant that the two populations were considered merely regional variants rather than distinct species.
• Females of Temminck's sunbird measure about 10 cm in length, while males grow to roughly 12.5 cm, making the male noticeably larger. This size difference is part of the species' sexual dimorphism, with the longer-tailed male also displaying brighter plumage.
• The longer-tailed male is predominantly scarlet, contrasted by a greyish belly and striking yellow and purple bands that run between the back and tail, plus four distinct purple bands radiating from the beak across the head. In contrast, the female presents a drab olive overall colour, highlighted only by rufous fringes on the wing and tail feathers, giving her a more subdued appearance.

Sources

Every fact above was checked against these pages, and kept only where one of them states it.

• Wikipedia

At a glance

About the Temminck's Sunbird

Temminck's Sunbird, scientifically known as Aethopyga temminckii, is a dazzling jewel of Southeast Asia, primarily found in the lush forests of the Philippines and parts of Indonesia. This small bird exhibits sexual dimorphism; males are adorned with iridescent emerald-green plumage that shimmers in the sunlight, while females sport a more subdued olive-brown coloration. Their slender, curved bills are perfectly adapted for extracting nectar from a variety of flowers, a diet that constitutes the bulk of their nutrition. Observers are often captivated by their acrobatic flight patterns as they flit from blossom to blossom, showcasing their agility and grace. These sunbirds are not just nectarivores; they will also consume small insects, especially during breeding season when they require additional protein to support their young. One surprising trait of Temminck's Sunbird is their ability to hover momentarily, akin to hummingbirds, allowing them to access nectar in hard-to-reach flowers with remarkable precision, a skill that enhances their role as pollinators in their ecosystems.

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