Cinnyris jugularis aurora (Tweeddale, 1878) are a noisy,
fast flying small songbirds that feed largely on nectar. They
can be seen hovering on flowers when feeding, but they will also take insects, especially when feeding young. It is often
encountered in the lowland second growths, mangroves, agricultural farms and
towns. This sunbird has adapted well to humans and can be found not just
in the forested area but even in fairly densely populated areas.
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| A female Olive-backed Sunbird building a nest. |
The Olive-backed Sunbird are common across Palawan and
often found in pairs, especially during breeding season. The male and
female are easily told apart because the male is more colorful and showy
than the female. They are known to breed from December to June. The
purse-like nest, composed of woven grass, spider webs, feathers, leaves
and other plant fibers is attached to small branches usually low down in
bushes and trees, sometimes close to the ground. Females do the hard
work of weaving and collecting materials for the nest.
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| Cinnyris jugularis during incubation period. |
Cinnyris jugularis has twenty-one subspecies currently
recognized and if I am not mistaken, four subspecies are present in the
Philippines. The C. j. aurora (Tweeddale, 1878), C. j. woodi (Mearns,
1909), C. j. jugularis (Linnaeus, 1766) and C. j. obscurior
Ogilvie-Grant, 1894. Palawan is home to the aurora race, the male has an
additional orange patch on the chest that lacks in the most widespread
variety of Olive-backed Sunbird in the Philippines.
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| Cinnyris jugularis pair. |
