On the 'maiden' visit to the bukit I couldn't be happier too having sight a new avian species for the bukit, the Purple-naped Sunbird (Hypogramma hypogrammicum nuchale).
I hadn't expected much when I came across a flock of pin-striped tit babblers but whilst trying to track a couple that were foraging low down, I noticed a lone one apart, flitting about. Thinking this was easier to photograph, I zoomed in and was cautiously thrilled when it looked like it could be something different, and true enough it turned out to be a female purple-naped sunbird, its distinct streaked underpart and olive-green upper-part suggesting its identity. Unfortunately it was neither close enough nor in brighter lighting and coupled with the rather busy undergrowth, I only managed a couple of standard shots.
It's of Least Concerned status, but can be considered uncommon as it's not easily found in its habitat of forested area. Although relatively larger than the regular sunbirds, it also can be missed for the dark upper-part in the male and olive-green upper-part in the female that blends well into the surrounding. Also known as purple-naped spiderhunter, this bird feeds on insects and of course spiders besides nectar, seeds and fruits.
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