Malaysian birds - Copper-throated Sunbird

I would term this bird to be specialized bird as they are dedicated to living in the mangrove forest. Normally the bird would fly across swiftly and perched in open branches at the upper storey. Just too far to get any details of this dark bird. In other times with particular fruits in season, the bird may wandering and hard to locate the bird. During the rest time, the bird would be in the shadows on the lower storey of mangrove trees in dried up areas and surrounded by scrubs. There the birds - both male and female would chirping away. Heard but I had with no way of locating the birds in this dense maze. I was lucky to get the bird nesting and paying many visit to see the fledging of the chick and getting the pictures. Not so easy to get the appropriate light angle to highlight the "copper" patch

Size & diagnostic markings:- The Copper-throated Sunbird is also 14 cm long slimmer body and the tail in 3 prongs is long. The bird is completely dark as it moves around the shadow most of the time. Black on the upper part and huge patch of copper red on the throat and upper breast then change in light purple on the breast and into gray in the area of the vent. The iridescent green on the crown and shoulder patch is very prominent. Look at frame 27, beneath the wing hide a small patch gold that is hardly seen.

So challenging to get that "copper" patch with the dark bird. Lightening up the patch would make the surrounding over exposed, but the body color very dark.

Sorry! All you get to see are my attempts

This is a full adult, The patch on the throat against the dark body.

OK! chance to see the gloss. Picture taken in the shadows with more direct sunlight.

Still I brought out examples of "Gloss" of the greenish hue.

The birds was a good model Stayed very long but not varying the background.

Even when it did. Still remained very close by to the location of its original perch

I really had problem with exposure

Ooops! Change subject The female this time.

Now the male came out to the open when the sun was out.

.One more picture of the female.

Habitats & preferences:- This is strictly a mangrove forest bird.

In Malaysia, where can the bird be found:- All my pictures were taken in Pulau Indah. The video was taken in Bagan Sungei Buloh

I have shown pictures of the birds, no apologies on picture quality as I am an "accidental" bird photographer, getting bird pictures for record. And though, I spent a considerable amount of time chasing after their pictures. Sometimes good pictures too, like those taken in my garden. Otherwise, most pictures turn out, the best, as passable.