Photo: Rejaul karim.rk / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Ruby-cheeked Sunbird
Chalcoparia singalensis
Ruby-cheeked Sunbird (Chalcoparia singalensis) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 8 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Ruby-cheeked Sunbird (Chalcoparia singalensis) 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 Chalcoparia
- Species singalensis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 8.2 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Nectariniidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Ruby-cheeked Sunbird is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Ruby-cheeked Sunbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Ruby-cheeked Sunbird (Chalcoparia singalensis) is a member of the Nectariniidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR Nepal to s China, Java and Borneo.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 8.2 g, with a wing length of about 5.2 cm and a tail of around 4.3 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 2.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Ruby-cheeked Sunbird?
The Ruby-cheeked Sunbird is a very small bird that weighs around 8.2 g.
Where does the Ruby-cheeked Sunbird live?
The Ruby-cheeked Sunbird is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR Nepal to s China, Java and Borneo, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Ruby-cheeked Sunbird belong to?
The Ruby-cheeked Sunbird (Chalcoparia singalensis) belongs to the Nectariniidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Ruby-cheeked Sunbird eat?
The Ruby-cheeked Sunbird is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Ruby-cheeked Sunbird migrate?
The Ruby-cheeked Sunbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Ruby-cheeked 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 Ruby-cheeked Sunbird make?
1 real field recording of the Ruby-cheeked Sunbird — including its begging call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Ruby-cheeked Sunbird's range?
The Ruby-cheeked Sunbird has a mapped global range of about 2.8 million 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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