Olive-backed Sunbird steals nectar from Costus woodsonii flowers

Jeremiah Loei’s video shows very clearly the male Olive-backed Sunbirds (Nectarinia jugularis) stealing nectar from flowers of the Scarlet Spiral Flag (Costus woodsonii).

This is done by probing its bill through its side of the flowers, rather than from the top by the Brown-throated Sunbird (Anthreptes malacensis).

Probing the flower from the top exposes the bill to pollen while entry from the side does not. The former will assist in pollination, not the latter.

Jeremiah Loei
Singapore
8th July 2017

This post is a cooperative effort between Birds, Insects N Creatures Of Asia and BESG to bring the study of birds and their behavior through photography and videography to a wider audience.