The Singapore olive-backed nectar-loving sunbird that visits my garden is bright and chirpy in the morning. That’s why she’s a sunbird. Her effervescent presence permeates the early morning humidity as she announces her presence on the ginger. You can tell it’s a she from her upperpart olive-green plumage and completely yellow underparts. The juvenile sunbird is similarly painted, camouflage from predators in its early life.

My friends think they’re hummingbirds, but hummingbirds are a different species and are native in the Americas.

The male sunbird has its distinct iridescent bluish-black forehead, throat and upper breast, and bright yellow underparts. He perches regally on the dwarf peacock tree and attacks the ginger flower with ferocity.

1.  G. C. Madoc, An Introduction to Malayan Birds (Kuala Lumpur: Malayan Nature, 1947), 207 (Call no. RCLOS 598.29595 MAD-[GBH]); Lim Kim Seng, Birds: An Illustrated Field Guide to the Birds of Singapore (Singapore: Sun Tree Publishing, 1997), 117. (Call no. RSING 598.095957 LIM)

2. Yong and Lim, Naturalist’s Guide to the Birds of Singapore, 150; M. W. F. Tweedie, Common Birds of the Malay Peninsula (Kuala Lumpur: Longman Malaysia, 1970), 57 (Call no. RSEA 598.29595 TWE); Lim, Illustrated Field Guide to the Birds, 117.

3. Panasonic Lumix G9; Olympus Zuiko 75-300 mm lens