Aethopyga eximia
The White-flanked Sunbird, *Aethopyga eximia*, is a dazzling jewel of Southeast Asian montane forests, captivating observers with its vibrant, iridescent plumage. Males, measuring approximately 11-12 cm, excluding their elongated central tail feathers, boast a metallic green crown, mantle, and throat, contrasting sharply with a crimson back and bright yellow-orange breast. Their most distinctive field mark, giving the species its name, is a striking white patch on each flank, often partially ...
Found primarily in montane evergreen and secondary forests, forest edges, and occasionally gardens, typically at elevations ranging from 800 to 2,000 meters above sea level.
Feeds primarily on flower nectar, supplemented by small insects and spiders, which they glean from foliage or catch in mid-air.
White-flanked Sunbirds are diurnal, highly active feeders, often observed solitarily or in pairs, though they may join mixed-species foraging flocks, especially during non-breeding seasons. They employ a 'hover-and-sip' foraging strategy, extracting nectar from flowers with their long, decurved b...
The White-flanked Sunbird is an endemic resident of the Greater Sunda Islands and the Malay Peninsula in Southeast Asia. Its distribution is primarily concentrated in the montane regions of Borneo, Sumatra, and Peninsular Malaysia. In Borneo, it is widespread in the highland areas of both Malaysi...
Least Concern
- The White-flanked Sunbird exhibits convergent evolution with hummingbirds, showcasing similar hovering flight and nectar-feeding adaptations despite being distantly related. - Its brilliant iridescent plumage is not due to pigments, but rather microscopic structures in its feathers that refract...