The Olive-backed Sunbird: Nectar Feeder of the Philippines

Olive-backed Sunbird (note the long tongue for feeding on nectar)

The Olive-backed Sunbird (Nectarinia jugulars) is one of the more common sunbirds seen at low elevations in the Philippines.  I first spotted these small nectar feeding birds on a silk Acacia tree on the Brent International School Campus. Later, I started spotting them at different locations in the Brent Subdivision where I live.  They are fast moving birds that tend to stick to the tops of the trees. As is common in the tropics, certain trees will shed their leaves at different times during the year. These small birds will stop at the tops of these trees to sun usually early in the mornings but also in the late afternoon.

Male Olive-backed Sunbird

As mentioned earlier, these are nectar feeding birds.  I have spotted them gleaning small insects and also feeding on the nectar from the silk acacia trees. They will perch right on or in the flowers or on occasion they will hover briefly and feed while in the air.

Immature Olive-backed Sunbird

Immature Olive-backed Sunbird

Immature male Olive-backed Sunbird

Sunbirds fill a similar niche in Asia to the hummingbirds of the Americas.  They are small, quick and can hover above the flowers when feeding. They are not quite the flyers as the hummingbirds though they also can have that metallic iridescent coloration similar to hummingbirds.

Olive-backed Sunbirds in silhouette photographed from my front yard.

Olive-backed Sunbirds in silhouette photographed from my front yard.

Olive-backed Sunbirds in silhouette photographed from my front yard.