Sunbirds: Nectariniidae

Physical characteristics: The adult body length is around 3.9 to 4.3 inches (10 to 11 centimeters). The bill is short and not downcurved. The male is iridescent green above, yellow below, with vivid crimson patches on the cheeks. Females and young are duller but the female shares the male's orange throat.

Geographic range: Northern India to northern Indochina, Sumatra, Java, and Borneo.

Habitat: Lowland and mountain tropical rain forest; also open forest, scrub forest, gardens.

Diet: Ruby-cheeked sunbirds feed on nectar and insects.

Ruby-cheeked sunbirds forage in tropical forests and sometimes gardens, usually in groups of five to ten. (Illustration by Barbara Duperron. Reproduced by permission.)

Behavior and reproduction: Ruby-cheeked sunbirds forage in tropical forests, in the canopy and at mid-level, usually in groups of five to ten. They also visit gardens for foraging. The call is a loud "chirp." Breeding follows the usual pattern among sunbirds: monogamous breeding pairs, purse-like nests, female incubating eggs, and both parents caring for the chicks.

Ruby-cheeked sunbirds and people: There is little significant interaction between ruby-cheeked sunbirds and humans, other than human appreciation of the exotic beauty of this and other sunbird species.

Conservation status: This species is not threatened. ∎