Purple Sunbird vs Southern Double-collared Sunbird

Purple Sunbird

Cinnyris asiaticus

Tiny8 gShrubland

The purple sunbird has a relatively short bill, a dark and short square ended tail with distinctive sexual dimorphism. Less than 10 cm (3.9 in) long they have a down-curved bill with brush-tipped tubular tongues that aid in nectar feeding. The male is glossy metallic bluish to purplish black on the upper parts with the wings appearing dark brown. The breeding male also has underparts of the same purplish black, but non-breeding males may show a central streak of black on yellow underparts.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Raja Sekhar Chimirala · CC BY 4.0

Southern Double-collared Sunbird

Cinnyris chalybeus

Tiny8 gShrubland

The southern double-collared sunbird is 12 cm long. The adult male has a glossy, metallic green head, throat, upper breast and back. It has a brilliant red band across the chest, separated from the green breast by a narrow metallic blue band. The rest of the underparts are whitish. When displaying, yellow feather tufts can be seen on the shoulders. As with other sunbirds the bill is long and decurved. The bill, legs and feet are black. The eye is dark brown.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: i_c_riddell · CC BY 4.0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Purple Sunbird and Southern Double-collared Sunbird.