The elegant sunbird is a large, up to 12 cm long, Australasian sunbird in the genus Aethopyga. The male has an iridescent blue-green crown, shoulder patch and uppertail coverts, yellow bar across lower back, red ear coverts, olive back, yellow throat, red neck collar and yellow below. The female has a yellowish olive upperparts, scaly crown and yellow underparts.
Region
Sangihe and Siau Islands (North Sulawesi, Indonesia)
Typical Environment
Occurs in tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, forest edges, secondary growth, plantations, and village gardens with abundant flowering trees. It forages from the understory to the mid-canopy, frequently using perches and short hovering bouts to access nectar. The species tolerates some habitat modification and is often seen around coconut, banana, and ornamental blooms. However, it depends on a steady supply of nectar sources and nearby cover, making intact forest patches and well-vegetated mosaics important.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The Elegant Sunbird is restricted to a tiny range on Indonesia’s Sangihe and Siau Islands and is a key pollinator of many native flowering plants. Males show striking iridescence and vivid yellow and red contrasts, while females are subtler and olive-yellow. It readily visits gardens and coconut groves with blooming trees. Ongoing habitat loss and degradation on these small islands pose significant risks to its long-term survival.
Temperament
active and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with brief hovering at flowers
Social Behavior
Typically seen singly or in pairs, defending rich flowering patches. Pairs likely maintain small territories during breeding. The nest is usually a small, pendulous pouch with a side entrance, suspended from vegetation and lined with fine plant fibers and spider webs.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A thin, high-pitched series of chips and twitters, often delivered from a perch amid flowering trees. Calls include sharp metallic notes used in contact and during brief chases around nectar sources.
