Named after a colonial Dutch governor of Ceylon, Joan Gideon Loten, the Loten’s Sunbird, Long-billed Sunbird or Maroon-breasted Sunbird, is a sunbird species that calls the Indian peninsula home. The bird distinguishes itself with its long, curved bill.

Loten's Sunbird

This sunbird feeds on small insects and spiders, and builds hanging nests, often bobbing its head while foraging. Males of the species possess tufts of yellow mixed with crimson that’s used in displays. These are mainly glossy, purple-hued birds.

Their long bills that are curved downwards and brush-tipped tubular tongues enable them to feed on nectar. The bird also performs ‘pest control’ on the plantations at Coorg.

Basking Glory!

The Loten’s Sunbird breeds between November and March, its nest being a ‘bag’ woven from webs, bark and caterpillar frass.

Recall seeing this bird sunning itself in Coorg?:)

Deepti Michelle John

Deepti, based out of Bangalore, works as Assistant Manager (Marketing) at Orange County Resorts. Possessing Master’s degrees in Psychology and Media and Communications from the London School of Economics, she enjoys spirituality, music, nature, and children.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 24th, 2012 at 3:06 PM and is filed under Birds, Destination, Plantation. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.