Mystery Bird: Yellow-bellied Sunbird, Nectarinia jugularis

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[Mystery bird] Yellow-bellied Sunbird, Nectarinia jugularis, photographed at Mossman, Queensland, Australia. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]

Image: Steve Duncan, 25 August 2009 [larger view].

Nikon D200 w/ Nikkor 300mm f/4 1/640 sec, f/4 iso 400.

Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.

Review all mystery birds to date.

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Looks like a golden-breasted starling but I didn't think they were in Australia.

Wow, they don't get much prettier than that.

Yellow-bellied Sunbird Nectarinia jugularis (male) 11cm
Olive green upperparts;irridecent blue-black patch on throat and breast.
A pair nested on our porch in Townsville Queensland Australia.

By John Mathison (not verified) on 26 Sep 2009 #permalink

A male Olive-backed Sunbird, the nominate subspecies Cinnyris jugularis jugularis: dull olive-brown upperparts; bright yellow underparts (both genders); forehead, throat and upper breast dark, metallic blue-black...

Male olive-backed sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis). Blue throat, yellow underparts, olive-green back, plus the fact that it is the only sunbird species native to Australia.

This also happens to be the most common sunbird species in Singapore, and I do encounter them very often.