Crimson Sunbird

The crimson sunbird is a tiny sunbird, only 11 cm long, which feeds largely on nectar and may also take insects, especially when feeding its young. Like other sunbirds it has a medium-length thin down-curved bill and a brush-tipped tubular tongue. The adult male has a crimson breast and maroon back with black malar stripes, a yellow rump and an olive belly, while the female has an olive-green back, a yellowish breast and white tips to the outer tail feathers. In most of the range males have a long green-blue tail (Wikipedia, general species account).

Flight is fast and direct on short wings. Most sunbirds can take nectar by hovering but usually perch to feed. Two or three eggs are laid in a suspended nest in a tree. It is the unofficial national bird of Singapore, as declared by the Nature Society Singapore (Wikipedia, general species account).