Magnificent sunbird

The magnificent sunbird (Aethopyga magnifica) is a striking species of bird in the sunbird family. It is endemic to the Philippines found in the Visayan islands of Negros Island, Panay, Cebu, Tablas Island and Romblon. It was considered a subspecies of the crimson sunbird.

Magnificent sunbird
Male
Female
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Nectariniidae
Genus:	Aethopyga
Species:	A. magnifica
Binomial name
Aethopyga magnifica Sharpe, 1876

Description and taxonomy

An illustration of a male (top) and female (bottom) by J. G. Keulemans (1880)

EBird describes the bird as "A stunning small bird of lowland and foothill scrub and gardens in the western Visayas. Male has a bright red head, back, and chest, a purple forehead, a broadening purple mustache stripe, a purple tail, black wings and belly, and a bright yellow patch on the lower back. Similar to Purple-throated, but larger; male lacks the purple throat, and female is mainly olive with distinctive reddish wings and tail. Call is a repeated high-pitched chik. ^[2]

This species was once conspecific with the Crimson sunbird but differs with its larger size. Males of the Magnificent sunbird differ with its black belly and purplish tails while females are much darker.

Ecology and behavior

Feed largely on nectar, although they will also take insects, especially when feeding young. Flight is fast and direct on their short wings. Most species can take nectar by hovering like a hummingbird, but usually perch to feed most of the time.

Breeds from February to June. Nest is bag shaped with roofed entrance made of roots, grass, plant fibers woven with spider webs. This nest is typically low and well concealed and close to large tree trunks. Clutch size is typically 2 to 3 reddish brown eggs with brownish red spotting and scribbles.^[3]

Habitat and conservation status

It is found in fruiting and flowering trees in primary, secondary and cultivated areas up to 1000 masl.^[4]

IUCN has assessed this bird as least concern with the population trend being assessed as stable. This is due to the species being able to tolerate degraded forest and cultivated areas unlike other forest specialists.