Cinnyris lotenius
The Loten's Sunbird (*Cinnyris lotenius*), also known as the Long-billed Sunbird, is a captivating passerine famed for its exceptionally long, decurved bill. Males are strikingly iridescent, featuring a metallic green head, mantle, and scapulars that shimmer with blue-purple hues, a deep maroon breast band, and a thin iridescent blue-violet collar separating it from a blackish belly. Measuring 12-13 cm in body length, their bill alone can extend 2.5-3.5 cm, a significant proportion of their o...
Typically found in open woodlands, scrub, gardens, plantations, and the edges of evergreen forests, from coastal lowlands up to elevations of approximately 1500 meters.
Primarily nectarivorous, consuming nectar from a wide variety of flowers, supplemented significantly by small insects and spiders gleaned from foliage or hawked in flight.
Loten's Sunbird exhibits a diurnal activity pattern, often seen actively foraging from dawn till dusk, though little is specifically known about its roosting habits beyond finding sheltered perches. Its primary foraging strategy involves probing deep into flowers with its specialized bill, either...
The Loten's Sunbird is endemic to the Indian subcontinent and Sri Lanka, where it is a widespread and common resident. Its primary distribution encompasses southern India, specifically through states such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and parts of Andhra Pradesh. Within Sri Lanka, the species...
Least Concern
- The Loten's Sunbird has one of the longest bills relative to its body size among all sunbird species, perfectly adapted for extracting nectar from long, tubular flowers. - Despite their hummingbird-like appearance and feeding behavior, sunbirds are not related to hummingbirds; their similaritie...