The Olive Backed Sunbird or also known as the yellow bellied sunbird is a very attractive small bird commonly found in Southern Asia and Australia. Its feathers collectively display a beautiful color combination of yellow and metallic blue.
However, underneath its wings hides a rich display of apricot colored feathers that only shows when the male olive backed sunbirds are on for a display. You will also see an outline of luminous blue around its throat, which indicates that this bird is ready for some action.
The Olive Backed Sunbirds are not typically shy and you will normally find them in flower gardens hovering around (that makes for a beautiful sight.) It loves nectar and mostly honey. Just like the hummingbirds, you will see them together with the butterflies sucking every possible nectar there is from one flower to another.
You may approach the Olive Backed Sunbird up close if you are gentle and quiet. They can easily confide in your garden and build nests made of thin grass, and if they find your garden peaceful and has enough food around, you will be amazed by the beautiful sight it can give you every single day.
This is how the male olive backed sunbird looks like when they are trying to attract the female sunbirds. The females looks similar in color except they don’t have they are paler. Both have curved black bills and grey legs.
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Paler in color compared to the male, but still proves to be one of the most beautiful sunbirds.
The beautiful olive backed sunbirds can be found mostly in Australia, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Philippines, Southern China, Myanmar and Indonesia.
Habitat
Initially, the olive backed sunbirds are found in mangroves. But these days, these birds had probably adjusted its habitat and became closer to humans, as you can now see them in orchards, plantations, and see them fly around villages and towns.
Diet
The olive backed sunbirds love nectar that they get from flowers and plants, especially the ones they get in coconut farms and the papaya tree. But their diet also includes insects likes spiders, caterpillars and sometimes ants.
Breeding
During the months of December to July is considered the breeding season of the Olive backed sunbirds. The females work on their nests that are pear shaped with just a small slit at the side for the entrance.
There are around 1 to 3 pale green eggs in one breeding cycle. It takes 11 days to hatch them, and once it is hatched, both the male and female olive backed sunbirds work on feeding their offspring until they are ready to go on their own.
Population
No report claims the decrease in population of the olive backed sunbirds, that is why it is considered stable.
Amazing and stunning are the best words to describe the olive backed sunbird. These small birds are definitely a work of art.
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