smap 241:Vigors's sunbird

Vigors's sunbird (Aethopyga vigorsii)

we are very fortunate to have occasional visits from these gorgeous sunbirds in our garden. they come for the nectar in the variety of flowers in the front of the house. in these shots i is perched on a hibiscus bush. if we are lucky there can be several species of sunbirds at the same time creating a marvellous show of brilliant flashes of color as they whiz from flower to flower. the males are exceptionally flashy but they must be in the sunlight to really shine. exact identification of the far more drab females can be difficult as the different species closely resemble each other

while several of the other sunbirds have wide ranges, vigors's sunbird is endemic to the Western Ghats region of India extending to the nearby coastal areas. i don't know where they nest but it's a genuine delight when they drop in for a visit.