Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Fire-tailed Sunbird
Aethopyga ignicauda
Fire-tailed Sunbird (Aethopyga ignicauda) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Fire-tailed Sunbird (Aethopyga ignicauda) is a member of the Nectariniidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 8.2 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Nectariniidae Sunbirds
- Genus Aethopyga
- Species ignicauda
Quick facts
- Weight
- 8.2 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Nectariniidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Fire-tailed Sunbird is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Fire-tailed Sunbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Fire-tailed Sunbird (Aethopyga ignicauda) is a member of the Nectariniidae family, within the order Passeriformes. Its range spans South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR Himalayas.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 8.2 g, with a wing length of about 5.5 cm and a tail of around 7.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 586,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Fire-tailed Sunbird?
The Fire-tailed Sunbird is a very small bird that weighs around 8.2 g.
Where does the Fire-tailed Sunbird live?
The Fire-tailed Sunbird is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR Himalayas, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Fire-tailed Sunbird belong to?
The Fire-tailed Sunbird (Aethopyga ignicauda) belongs to the Nectariniidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Fire-tailed Sunbird eat?
The Fire-tailed Sunbird is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Fire-tailed Sunbird migrate?
The Fire-tailed Sunbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Fire-tailed Sunbird endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Fire-tailed Sunbird make?
1 real field recording of the Fire-tailed Sunbird — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Fire-tailed Sunbird's range?
The Fire-tailed Sunbird has a mapped global range of about 586,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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