Bird
Fire-tailed Sunbird
Aethopyga ignicaudaBreeding male Fire-tailed Sunbirds sport spectacular, fiery crimson central tail feathers that trail behind them as they hover among blooming subalpine rhododendrons. These active altitudinal migrants scale Himalayan slopes up to 4,000 meters during the summer breeding season before descending to warm valley forests to avoid severe winter frosts. They maintain high metabolisms by continuously alternating between sipping rich floral nectar and snatching small spiders from the underside of leaves.
MontanePollinatorColorful
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyRhododendron Nectar, Spiders, Aphids
Predators
- Collared Owlet
- Besra
- Mountain Pit Viper
ThreatsClimate change shifting alpine vegetation zones and habitat disturbance
HabitatsSubalpine rhododendron shrub, temperate conifer forests, montane scrub
Life span3–6 years
Classification
- FamilyNectariniidae
- SpeciesAethopyga ignicauda
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Floral Watch: Position yourself near blooming rhododendron stands early in the morning when feeding peaks.
- Audio Cue: Listen for high-pitched, metallic chipping notes echoing over misty subalpine hillsides.
- Canopy Scanning: Use binoculars along forest edges where females and non-breeding males blend into dense foliage.
Host Plant (c) Vsevolod Rudyi, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Vsevolod Rudyi · cc-by
Predator JJ Harrison / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative no rights reserved · cc0
Close Relative (c) Pål A. Olsvik, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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