Purple Sunbird Cinnyris asiaticus Scientific name definitions

10–11 cm; male 6·9–11 g, female 5–10 g. Male nominate race breeding is dark metallic blue and purple above, with uppertail black, glossed blue; metallic purplish-blue on lesser upperwing-coverts, sometimes also on margins of median and faintly on greater upperwing-­coverts and remiges; dark metallic blue and purple on throat and breast, sides blue-green, belly dark purple and separated from breast by narrow reddish-brown band, pectoral tufts bright yellow and scarlet; iris orange-brown, brown or dark brown; bill brownish-black, mouth pinkish-yellow; legs brownish-black. Male non-breeding (eclipse plumage, Oct–Jan in Karachi) is pale olive-brown above, as female, but wings and tail blackish; yellow below, with broad blue-black stripe down middle of throat, breast and belly. Female is olive-brown above, with pale yellowish supercilium, pale fringes on wing feathers, tail black, outer rectrices with large white spots; dull yellow below. Juvenile is similar to female, but paler below. Race brevirostris has shorter bill than nominate, male greener above and often lacks reddish-brown pectoral band, female paler, juvenile whiter on flanks; <em>intermedius</em> male has more violet-purple upperparts, chin and throat than nominate, female is darker above and richer yellow below, juvenile more buffy grey below.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Small insects , and spiders (Araneae); nectar , also fruits, particularly of mistletoes (Loranthaceae) but also grapes. Forages singly, in pairs and in small to medium-sized groups; larger groups (up to 200 individuals) observed in non-breeding season. Visits flowers of aloes (Aloe), Avicenna marina, Calotropis procera, Lycium, Prosopis cineracea, Prosopis juliflora and Maerua crassifolia.

Song an excited “cheewit-cheewit” rapidly ­repeated 2–6 times, usually by male, and warbling “swi-swi-swi-a-col-a-oli” or “sisisi-sew-sew-sew”; also “t’k’k’k’…k’k’/-ché/wíng!- ché/wíng!- ché/wíng!” and variants, sometimes interspersed with call notes. Calls include “chip”, frequent loud “chweet”, rising “sweep”, hard “zik”, upslurred “chwing” and similar; in flight a shrill chirp; loud, harsh, monotonous whistle; crackling alarm call.

Breeding in all months, chiefly in dry season; laying recorded in Jan–Jul (also nestlings and a female with enlarged ovary, both Jul) in Oman, and Apr–May in Pakistan; in India, mainly May–Aug in N (but Mar–Jun in Haryana and Feb–May in Bihar) and Nov–Aug (earlier in S) in Deccan; May–Jun in Nepal, Jan–Jun (mostly Mar–Apr, occasionally to Sept) in Sri Lanka, and Feb–May in Myanmar; nest with young in Cambodia, Feb; often double-brooded in Oman and C India, and at two or more broods in quick succession in Bihar. Nest, built in 5–15 days, an oblong purse, usually with porch, made of soft grass and fibres, leaves, cobwebs, etc., decorated with detritus and rubbish, including pieces of bark and caterpillar frass, lined with silky-white seed down; suspended on twig 2–6 m (rarely, 13 m) from ground, often from inner branch of bush (including Opuntia), or may be hung from trelliswork, creepers, rope, chain, rafter or electric wire (including wire attached to live bulb) on verandah or even inside building, or placed among spider nest mass. Clutch 1–3 eggs, greyish-white, chocolate-brown streaks forming band around broad end; incubation period 14–15 days; nestling period 13–17 days. Nests parasitized by Grey-bellied Cuckoo (Cacomantis passerinus).

Not globally threatened. Common in Indian Subcontinent and N Oman. Expanding in United Arab Emirates in response to afforestation, which provides new nesting habitats. Occurs in many protected areas, such as Keoladeo and Nagarhole National Parks, in India, Chitwan National Park, in Nepal, and Doi Inthanon National Park, in Thailand. This sunbird’s habit of eating grapes has afforded it the status of a pest species in parts of India (Haryana and around Hyderabad).