Common sunbird-asity facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Common sunbird-asity |
|
|---|---|
_(2).jpg) |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Neodrepanis
|
| Species: |
coruscans
|
The common sunbird-asity (also called sunbird asity) is a small, colorful bird. Its scientific name is Neodrepanis coruscans. This special bird belongs to the Philepittidae family. You can only find it in Madagascar, which means it is endemic there. It lives in warm, wet forests close to the ground.
What is a Common Sunbird-Asity?
These birds are quite tiny. They have short tails and thin beaks that curve downwards. One cool thing about them is how their colors change. During the time they breed, the males look very different from the females. This is called sexual dichromatism.
How Do Males and Females Look Different?
When it's breeding season, male sunbird-asities are super bright. Their backs are shiny blue and black. Their undersides are a bright yellow. They also have amazing blue and green patches on their faces. These patches are called caruncles.
Female birds, and males when they are not breeding, look a bit different. They are duller, with blue-green feathers on top. They don't have the bright face patches. Their undersides are usually yellowish. Sometimes, a bird that looks like a female might have a small face patch. This could be a young male. In winter, male birds might still show some of their bright breeding colors.
Special Features of the Male Sunbird-Asity
Male common sunbird-asities are not as bright as some other types of sunbird-asities. But they still have beautiful colors. Their back, head, and shoulders have brilliant royal blue edges on their feathers. Their wing feathers also have thin, yellow edges.
Their undersides are a dull, deep yellow. You might see strong olive-brown streaks on their chest. Their sides, belly, and under their tail are brighter and don't have streaks. The blue face patch on males is almost square. It's a pretty turquoise-blue color, and it looks greener around the eye. This patch doesn't go far in front of the eye. It is also separate from the blue and green skin near the base of their beak.
