Sahul Sunbird

1. Male has a bright iridescent blue-black throat; female lacks this and is plainer yellow.

2. Both sexes have white-tipped black tails, especially visible in flight.

3. Olive upperparts and yellow underparts set them apart from other small Australian birds.

Sahul Sunbirds primarily feed on nectar, but also eat insects and spiders, especially when raising young. They usually forage alone or in small groups. The female builds an elongated, hanging nest from plant fibers and spider webs, typically suspended low in vegetation. She lays 1–3 eggs per clutch and incubates them alone for about 11–16 days. After hatching, both parents feed the chicks, which fledge in 13–16 days. Multiple broods may be raised in a year.

Look for Sahul Sunbirds in northeastern Queensland, especially near the coast, extending into gardens, parks, mangroves, and forest edges. They are most active around flowering native plants, such as bottlebrush and grevillea, where they feed on nectar and small insects. Their rapid, darting flight and habit of hovering briefly at flowers make them noticeable in suburban and natural settings.