Salim Ali, well known for his contribution to identification of bird species in the Indian subcontinent described five types of sun birds in is book, 'The book of IndIan Birds'. I noticed that all of them are described by the appearance of the male birds.
This Purplerumped sun bird(second photo) has its female pair (first photo), which is olive brown with yellow breast.
Although most birds are similarly named after the appearance of the male birds, it is in the family of sunbirds I find the contrast in appearance between male and female birds conspicuously contrasting!
I find this rather odd! The female birds get only a subsidiary reference in the description of birds. Why should it be that way!
The sunbirds shake their body and quick to move from place to place. It is the movement of the leaves in the shrubs or tree which call our attention to them as they are only less than 10 cm. or less in size.
I have noticed that they are one of the well groomed birds in the garden! They have fixed flight stations and nearly precise timings of the visits to each station.
They seek after nectar in our garden!
M.C.Mathew (text and photo)
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