Mrs Goulds Sunbird Male – Da Lat – Viet Nam. Viet Nam Stock Image

Mrs. Gould’s Sunbird Aethopyga gouldiae ranges India to China and Vietnam. Substantial range in China, with nominate resident southeast Tibet and dabryii southwest China to Hubei and Guangdong. HABITAT & BEHAVIOR Hills and mountains, in summer to 4000 m (13,120 ft.), lower in winter. Nectarivore uses long, decurved bill to probe flowers. ID & COMPARISON Male has iridescent lilac crown, throat, ear patch, and patch at bend of wing (which may appear entirely black in poor light). Sides of face scarlet, as are nape, mantle, and lesser and median coverts. Wings brown, suffused with yellow. Rump yellow. Tail shiny blue, with white tips to tail feathers. Breast fire-orange (dabryii) or yellow (gouldiae). Rest of underparts yellow. Female has greyish head and is olive-green above and yellowish below, with bright yellow band on rump and prominent white on tail. Yellow rump band broader and brighter in Mrs. Gould’s than on female Black-throated Sunbird A. saturata Black-throated darker and drabber overall. Male eclipse like female but usually lacks grey hood of female, instead having all-yellow breast up to often blackish throat.