Nányué Ecology: Rare Forked-Tail Sunbird Discovered
On March 27th (Kuāng dài yǒng), recently, staff of the Nányuè Hengshan National Nature Reserve Administration discovered the rare Sunbird with a Forked Tail during routine animal monitoring and patrol work, adding a new member to the protection zone’s bird list.
The Forked Tail Sunbird’s plumage is richly colored, and its song is melodious. The male adult has green color on its head to the back of its neck, with metallic gloss, which changes to blue-purple depending on the angle, vibrant and colorful. Its beak is thin and downward-curved, feeds on nectar from flowers with a curved and tubular long tongue, is dubbed ‘the fairy of the moon’ by locals, playing the role of a bridge-builder to transmit pollen to forest mountain cherry blossoms and tea flowers, being hailed as ‘the Eastern hummingbird’ . The photo taken was of a male Forked Tail Sunbird, about 11 cm long, often jumping on branches.
Sunbirds have high requirements for the ecological environment, mainly feed on nectar, which helps to spread pollen, and plays an important role in maintaining the ecological balance of the Nányuè local forest system. Next, the Nature Reserve Administration will continue to increase monitoring and patrol efforts, further understand the distribution and survival status of the Forked Tail Sunbird, and provide a better habitat for the Forked Tail Sunbird’s residence and reproduction.
Source: Nature Reserve Administration
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