Olive-Backed Sunbirds

Olive-backed sunbird is one of the very common bird that can be found even in urban area. What do Olive-backed sunbird feed on?
Nectar is one of their main diet.
Through camera, we get to see what we usually missed just by our naked eyes. The nectar of Helicornia is richer than I thought. Just look at the nectar that splashed out from the flower!

They also feed on small insect & also spiders!

Where is your Pet?

I can't remember how the conversation of considerate pet owner started but I remember telling my friend that I have few very cute pet birds at home. They then starts asking how I keep them clean, how I feed them,...etc with all kind of question. Well, I told them why don't you pay me a visit and I show you how in detail! I also told them that the condition is that they can only come in the morning as I usually play with my pet in the morning. Haa! Perhaps we are busy so we left this matter as it is.....

Well, I do feed the birds but they are not just my pet!! They are free to come and go.... they are Olive-backed sunbirds that visit my flower pot everyday without fail to collect the nectar produce by my hoya plant. Are they my pet? Yes, as I do feed them.... No, they are free to come and go!

This is a perfect way to own a pet yet without all the messy cleaning or maintenance. In fact is a real 'Pet for life' as AVA is promoting. There is no question of abandon your pet as they are free to come and go!

Isn't this a more sustainable way of owning a pet? :-)

Many Faces of Olive-Backed Sunbird

This series of Olive-back sunbird was taken earlier this month and would like to share with you the many faces of this cute little bird.This was a female sunbird standing near a hibiscus flower that almost the same size. Sunbirds with small, long and decurved bills perfect for feeding on nectar and insects!Since they have a rather small body, they are very active and agile! They can easily meneuver around the dense growth.

The sunbirds have no problem dashing around from branch to branch.
The sunbirds can have access to the nectar easily with their long tongue.

The do stretching too.

Sunbirds sometimes do behave like a robber. According to Luan Keng, the bird pierce through outside of the flower to collect the nectar. By doing this, the sunbirds does not pollinate the flowers at all. The nectar probably too deep for the sunbird to get so they start to rob the nectar instead by piercing from the outside. A very smart move.