Bird
Green-tailed Sunbird
Aethopyga nipalensisAlso known as Nepal Yellow-Backed Sunbird
Males boast an iridescent metallic green crown, tail, and throat, contrasting sharply with a bright yellow lower back and crimson chest patches. These energetic high-altitude nectar-feeders dart rapidly between flowering trees, hovering briefly to insert their decurved bills into blossoms. They play a vital role as pollinators in Himalayan montane forests, moving vertically along mountain slopes with the changing seasons.
Nectar-FeederMontaneColorful
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyFlower nectar, Spiders, Small insects
Predators
- Small hawks
- Tree snakes
- Tree squirrels
ThreatsHabitat loss from deforestation, climate change shifting elevation zones
HabitatsSubtropical and tropical moist montane forests, temperate mountain woodlands
Life span3–6 years
Classification
- FamilyNectariniidae
- SpeciesAethopyga nipalensis
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
- Spotting: Scan flowering rhododendrons and oak canopy blossoms during sunny mornings.
- Listening: Listen for high-pitched metallic chip calls echoing through mountain forest clearings.
- Binoculars: Bring lightweight optics to track their rapid movement through high canopy branches.
Close Relative no rights reserved · cc0
Close Relative Dibyendu Ash / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Pål A. Olsvik, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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