The Olive-backed Sunbird (scientific name: Nectarinia jugularis) was one of two new species of sunbirds from Hainan Island in South China first described by Robert Swinhoe, a naturalist who served as the British Consul in China between 1854 and 1873. It is very common in Singapore, where it is a resident. It was featured on the S$20 notes of the "Bird Series" currency notes that were released by the Monetary Authority of Singapore between 1976 and 1984. It also appeared on the S$2 stamp of the 1962 postage stamp series, the first series depicting flora and fauna of Singapore.
Description
The Olive-backed Sunbird belongs to the Nectarinidae or Sunbird family. Members of this family, with their metallic plumages and slender curved bills, are often mistaken as hummingbirds, which are an unrelated species found only in the Americas. Male Olive-backed Sunbirds have a distinctive, metallic purple-black throat and bright yellow underparts. The females have a drab olive-brown plumage with completely yellow underparts. Juveniles are similar to the females in colour and young males have the black colour confined to stripes. Adults of this species are about 10-11cm in length. Its call is a rough, metallic "cheep cheep wheet" or a high-pitched rising "chee".
Reproduction
The nesting behaviour of the Olive-backed Sunbird has been widely recorded and described. The nest of this species, as with other members of the Sunbird family, can best be described as an upside-down pear with a pendulous stalk. It is often hung on a twig or a branch or even any unused man-made structure such as a telephone wire, cord or drainpipe. It is built using dead leaves, moss and other debris untidily wound together with bits hanging out. The entrance to the nest is just above the middle of the structure, with a little projecting eave for the parent to perch and enter. Inside, the nest cavity is deep and well lined.
The locations of the nests in Singapore have been a source of surprise and entertainment to the amateur naturalist as this species seems to like nesting in close proximity to humans. Articles and letters written to local media have made mention of these birds nesting in small, spindly plants located on the corridors and balconies of public flats and private apartments, in trees close to windows of houses and even in bedrooms of large houses. The fact that they prefer to nest in shrubs closer to the ground makes observation even easier, especially since there is little attempt to conceal the nest. Plants where nests have been built include bougainvilleas and figs.
Olive-backed Sunbirds have been recorded to nest during a period that stretches over the first half of the year. Two mottled, greyish-white eggs are laid. The parents take turns to look after their young.
Diet
The Olive-backed Sunbird feeds mainly on nectar and small insects, including moths, ants, spiders, grasshoppers and insect larvae. In Singapore, it can be observed flitting and feeding from blooms of hibiscuses, coral trees, butterfly trees, bottlebrushes, heliconias and coral plants.
Distribution and Habitat
This species is found east of Myanmar, through southeastern China and all the way south through Indochina, the Malay Peninsula, the Indonesian archipelago, Papua New Guinea and the Greater Sunda Islands through to northeastern Australia.
It is the most common sunbird in Singapore, where six other species of sunbirds have been recorded, all of which are resident. It can be found in almost every habitat except the forest, and it is a frequent visitor to gardens, parks and coastal areas. It seems to have little fear of humans, as shown by its nesting behaviour.
Variant Names
English: Yellow-breasted Sunbird
Malay: Kelicap
Author
Eunice Low
References
Cheke, R. A., Mann, C. F., & Allen, R. (2001). Sunbirds: A guide to the sunbirds, flowerpeckers, spiderhunters, and sugarbirds of the world. New Haven: Yale University Press.
(Not in NLB holdings)
Gan, J. (2002). Some interesting notes on the Sunbirds. Wetlands, 9(3), 10-11.
(Call no.: RSING 508.5957 SBNP)
Hails, C. J. (c1987). Birds of Singapore. Singapore: Times Editions.
(Call no.: RSING 598.295957 HAI)
Lim, K. S. (1997). Birds: An illustrated field guide to the birds of Singapore. Singapore: Sun Tree Publishing.
(Call no.: RSING 598.095957 LIM)
Madoc, G. C. [1947]. An introduction to Malayan birds. [Kuala Lumpur: Malayan Nature].
(Call no.: RCLOS 598.29595 MAD -[GBH])
Smythies, B. E. (1981). The birds of Borneo. Kota Kinabalu, Sabah; Kuala Lumpur: Sabah Society; Malayan Nature Society.
(Call no.: RSEA 598.295983 SMY)
Spittle, R. J. (1950). Nesting habits of some Singapore birds. Bulletin of the Raffles Museum Singapore, Straits Settlements, 21, 184-204.
(Call no.: RCLOS 571.09595 RMSB)
Strange, M. (c2000). A photographic guide to the birds of Malaysia & Singapore: Including Southeast Asia, the Philippines and Borneo. Hong Kong: Periplus.
(Call no.: RSING 598.0959 STR)
Tan, A. (2005, March 26). Watch the birdie. The Straits Times. Retrieved March 7, 2011, from NewspaperSG.
Tan, A. (2005, April 30). It's a bird perk. The Straits Times. Retrieved March 7, 2011, from NewspaperSG.
Tweedie, M. W. F. [1970]. Common birds of the Malay Peninsula. Kuala Lumpur: Longman Malaysia.
(Call no.: RSEA 598.29595 TWE)
The information in this article is valid as at 2006 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.
