Nesting Pearls: The Fascinating Breeding Behavior of Olive-backed Sunbirds

The male with the shiny purple feathers is bigger and has a longer beak compared to the Purple Sunbird, which looks somewhat similar.

The Long-billed Subird, also known as the Maroon-breasted Subird or Copyris lotenius, is a small bird measuring around 12-13 cm. It has a long bill and brown wings, with a glossy purple throat and a maroon breast band. Male birds also have yellow and crimson pectoral tufts that they use for display. The cap, back of the head, and upper back area of the bird appear iridescent green.

The upper parts of the female bird range from yellow to grey, while the lower parts are yellowish in color. Meanwhile, non-breeding males exhibit upper parts that also vary from yellow to grey, along with a blue central streak extending down to the belly of the bird.

The bird in question is commonly found in the Indian peninsula and Sri Lanka.

Loten’s Subirds are quite common in urban gardens and other areas like the city of Madras. They are often spotted more frequently than other types of subirds.

These feathered creatures primarily nourish themselves by perching on a branch while feeding on nectar. However, they are also capable of hovering in front of a flower as they feed. During the breeding season, they also consume insects.

In India, the breeding season for this species is observed between November and March, while in Sri Lanka it extends until May. During this time, the female creates a nest using bark, caterpillar droppings, and webs, which is suspended from a tree. Once the female lays eggs inside the nest, she incubates them for approximately 15 days. After hatching, both the male and female take turns feeding the young.