Cinnyris infrenatus
The Tukangbesi Sunbird (Cinnyris infrenatus) is a vibrant and diminutive passerine, celebrated for its iridescent plumage and active demeanor, endemic to the remote Tukangbesi Islands of Indonesia. Males are particularly striking, boasting shimmering metallic green upperparts that transition into a bright yellow belly, often separated by a narrow, iridescent purplish-blue breast band, and a distinctive decurved black bill adapted for nectar feeding. Females, in contrast, exhibit a more subdue...
This sunbird primarily inhabits subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, as well as coastal mangrove forests, typically found at low elevations across its island home.
The primary diet of the Tukangbesi Sunbird consists of nectar, supplemented by small insects and spiders obtained through gleaning from foliage or active pursuit.
Tukangbesi Sunbirds are diurnal and highly active, spending their days flitting between flowering plants and trees in search of sustenance. Their foraging strategy primarily involves probing flowers for nectar with their specialized bills, often hovering briefly or perching to feed, but they also...
The Tukangbesi Sunbird is strictly endemic to the Tukangbesi Archipelago, located off the southeastern coast of Sulawesi, Indonesia. This confined distribution includes the main islands of Wangi-Wangi, Kaledupa, Tomia, and Binongko, as well as several smaller surrounding islets within this group....
Least Concern
- The Tukangbesi Sunbird is named after the Tukangbesi Islands (also known as the Wakatobi Islands) where it is exclusively found, making it a true island endemic. - It was historically considered a subspecies of the widespread Olive-backed Sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis) but was elevated to full sp...