Fork-tailed Sunbird

The Fork-tailed Sunbird is a diminutive, brilliantly colored bird found in the subtropical hills of southern China and adjacent parts of Vietnam. It is a classic Old World sunbird, feeding on nectar with a slender curved bill and flashing metallic colors as it moves.

Males have a glittering metallic green crown and shoulder patch, a scarlet throat and upper breast, olive-yellow underparts, and elongated central tail feathers that give the species its name. Females are much plainer, olive-green above and paler yellowish below, lacking the male's iridescent colors and tail streamers.

Although tiny, its combination of jewel-like colors and a forked tail makes the male one of the most striking small birds within its range.

Key field marks

• Male: metallic green crown and shoulder patch, red throat and breast, olive-yellow belly
• Elongated, forked central tail feathers in the male
• Female: plain olive-green above, dull yellowish below, short tail
• Slender, downcurved bill typical of sunbirds
• Fast, darting flight between flowers

Similar species

• Mrs. Gould's Sunbird: larger and more extensively colorful with a violet-blue tail and more extensive red on the underparts; ranges can overlap in parts of southern China and Vietnam.
• Crimson Sunbird: more extensively crimson on the underparts and lacks the forked tail streamers, with a different, more southerly range.
• Female sunbirds of other species: often very similar plain olive/yellow females; best distinguished by range, precise bill shape, and any accompanying male.

Habitat

Fork-tailed Sunbirds occupy subtropical evergreen forest edges, secondary growth, scrub, bamboo, and gardens, typically at low to middle elevations in hilly terrain.

Range

Found in southern China (including Hainan Island), Hong Kong, and northern Vietnam, where it is often one of the more common small sunbirds in suitable habitat.

Migration

Generally resident, though some populations may make short elevational movements outside the breeding season in response to flower availability.

Behavior

Fork-tailed Sunbirds are active, restless feeders, moving quickly between flowering shrubs and trees, often hovering briefly or clinging to flowers while probing for nectar.

Voice

The song is a thin, high-pitched, rapid series of tinkling and buzzy notes; calls include sharp, high chips given in flight or while perched.

Feeding

They feed chiefly on nectar taken from a variety of flowering plants using their curved bill and tubular tongue, supplementing this with small insects and spiders, especially when raising young.

Nesting and breeding

The female builds a small, hanging, pear-shaped nest suspended from a thin branch or vine, often incorporating spider silk. She typically performs most of the incubation and early chick care, with the male sometimes assisting in feeding the young.