Malaysian Bird

Ruby-cheeked Sunbird

This is one of the 2 smallest of Sunbird at 11 cm and also among the lot of very colorful ones. The bird is mostly iridescent green from the colorful on its upperparts.  But in the absence of sunlight or most times when the bird is in the shadow, it is the pale orange-rufous throat  that is diagnostic on the bird. This bird is hard to see as it frequent the dense foliage at the lower storey.  I noticed that the bird has a preference for Bamboo clumps. When a Sunbird is spotted moving among thick foliages, listen for the sharp calls. While it difficult to spot, once spotted it is easy to follow its movement as the bird wanders unhurriedly. There is no specific surrounding to look for the bird except meeting up with it except a accidental encounter. The only clue I can give is that the bird was consistently sighted on Kemensah and Kuala Selangor Nature park. Again another bird from the SW China, Sumatra and Borneo region, this bird is fairly common in our lowland forest and Mangrove swamp. Have yet to see it in the sub-montane areas. Size & diagnostic markings:- The Ruby-cheeked Sunbird is as small as the Olive-winged in the family at only 11 cm. The bird has a dark green upper part. On the under part, a prominent pale orange-rufous throat that extend to the upper breast and the rear half of the breast in yellow. This is one Sunbird that has the most iridescent patches. Almost most front portion of the upper part from the crown to the shoulder patch is in metallic green. The ear coverts  in copper red.

Ruby-cheeked Sunbird 1

The pictures are for illustrative purposes. OK. Bottom - female with light orange coloured throat.

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Purposely included a picture of the bird's back view which is in iridescence green

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Without light - the coat of the bird looks reallly dark.

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The pale rufous-orange throat of the bird looks very prominent.

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Yet another view of the throat - this time frontal view

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Found one shot showing its name sake, the "Ruby-cheek" but difficult to get it in the right shade.

That unmstakeable throat colour, which the female share as well

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Now with sunlight, the green gloss becomes more prominent, but again the ruby cheek is not as clear.

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Ooops! can see this bird of 11 cm is really very small.

At last, the colour on the cheek came out! Then most green colour on the body gets an off-light shade

Habitats & preferences:- This is another lowland forest bird that is insectivorous hunting in heavily wooded environment. Sometimes the bird may stray into garden if they are located at the forest edge.  In Malaysia, where can the bird be found:- So far, most places I encountered the bird were in deep forest and also bamboo clumps. It is not very common but also not  a rare bird.