The image above by Chan Yoke Meng and Melinda Chan shows a Brown-throated Sunbird (Anthreptes malacensis) apparently trying to pry open a flower of the Indian Head Ginger (Costus spicatus) to get at the nectar.
Nectar-feeding sunbirds birds are attracted to these flowers, as seen HERE and HERE.
Sun Chong Hong
Coincidentally, just captured a video of an Olive-backed Sunbird taking the nectar of Indian Head Ginger 2 days ago ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raX1CHlq6nY )
Unfortunately, the camera couldn’t read my mind and focussed on the wrong place.
Am
Beautiful colours on this particular bird.
Bird Ecology Study Group Brown-throated Sunbird dealing with Costus spicatus flower
[…] An earlier post showed what appeared to be a Brown-throated Sunbird (Anthreptes malacensis) manipulating a flower of the Indian Head Ginger (Costus spicatus) to get at its nectar LINK. […]
Bird Ecology Study Group Flowers of Costus woodsonii or Scarlet Spiral Flag
[…] Sunbird (Anthreptes malacensis) led me to take a closer look at the plant and its flowering biology LINK 1 and LINK […]
Bird Ecology Study Group Brown-throated Sunbird uses mandibles and foot to get at flower nectar of Costus woodsonii
[…] wrongly identified as Costus spicatus (Indian Head Ginger) – is illustrated with a single image LINK. There is a hint that the bird may have used its mandibles to pry open the […]
Bird Ecology Study Group Chan Yoke Meng: Photographer with a mission
[…] 13. Nectar harvesting by Brown-throated Sunbird (Anthreptes malacensis) LINK. […]