Garden Sunbird

The garden sunbird is 10–11.4 cm (3.9–4.5 in) in size; males weigh 6.7–11.9 g (0.24–0.42 oz) and females 6–10 g (0.21–0.35 oz). The male in its nominate (jugularis) form displays an olive hue on its upper body, featuring black wing feathers with green edges and a black tail adorned with white tips. The areas around its eyes (lores), neck, chin, throat, and breast are dark and iridescent, accompanied by yellow pectoral tufts. The lower portion of the bird is dark yellow, sometimes with a brown band encircling the gorget area. The iris is dark brown, while its bill and legs are black. Non-breeding males often have the glossy black coloration limited to the central throat stripe, which may represent juvenile birds transitioning to their adult plumage. In contrast, the female exhibits an upper body of greenish olive, featuring a pale-yellowish stripe above the eyes, yellowish borders on its wing feathers, a tail with black and white markings, and a deep yellow color on the lower portion of its body, slightly lighter on the undertail feathers. Juvenile birds resemble the female but tend to be paler and browner in appearance.

The garden sunbird is found on the Philippine islands except on the Palawan archipelago which is occupied by the similar Palawan sunbird. It inhabits forests, shrublands, grasslands and artificial habitats. The garden sunbird has adapted well to human environments and is common in fairly densely populated areas, where it builds nests in human settlements.

The female garden sunbird builds the nest using grass, cotton, moss, lichens, leaf fragments, vegetable fibers, and spider webs, lined with bark or feathers. The nest has the form of a hanging oval pouch with a sheltered side opening, often featuring a dangling "beard." She lays eggs in May and June. Sunbirds feed largely on nectar, although they will also take insects, especially when feeding young. Most species can take nectar by hovering, but usually perch to feed most of the time.