Chalcoparia singalensis
The Ruby-cheeked Sunbird (Chalcoparia singalensis) is a diminutive and strikingly beautiful passerine, typically measuring 10-12 cm (4-4.7 inches) in length and weighing between 6-10 grams. Males are adorned with iridescent green upperparts, greyish underparts, and the species' most distinctive feature: a brilliant ruby-red patch on each cheek. Their lower belly and vent are a contrasting yellow, and they possess a short, slightly decurved bill. Females are much duller, with olive-green upper...
Found in tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, forest edges, secondary growth, plantations, and sometimes gardens. Typically occurs from lowlands up to around 1,500 meters (approx 4,900 feet) in elevation.
Primarily feeds on a diverse array of small insects and spiders gleaned from foliage and bark, supplemented significantly by nectar from a variety of flowering plants.
This diurnal sunbird actively forages throughout the day, often seen singly or in pairs, though occasionally joining mixed-species foraging flocks, especially outside the breeding season. It employs various foraging strategies, including gleaning small insects and spiders from leaves and bark, ho...
The Ruby-cheeked Sunbird is a resident species with an extensive distribution across tropical Southeast Asia and parts of the Indian subcontinent. Its year-round range spans from eastern Nepal, northeast India (Assam), Bangladesh, and Myanmar, eastward through Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietna...
Least Concern
- Despite its name, the Ruby-cheeked Sunbird's bill is less specialized for nectar feeding than many other sunbirds, leading to a diet with a higher proportion of insects and spiders. - The genus name *Chalcoparia* means 'bronze-cheeked' or 'copper-cheeked' in Greek, referring to the male's metal...