The fork-tailed sunbird (Aethopyga christinae) is a very small bird, 6-9cm only, that have a frequent “zwinkzwink” call and a metallic trill. Residents of Hong Kong, they are common and wide spread. They breed between April and June, eventually forming a ball of grass into a nest up in the trees.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/618ad6_d645ac4cfa8b46c9b15ecfb21c426dca~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_220,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/618ad6_d645ac4cfa8b46c9b15ecfb21c426dca~mv2.jpg)
Here is the female below, no less lovely but olive and yellow, without his splendour. She. is hanging on to a hibiscus bush at `Lions park in Saikung, but sad to say this whole row of shrubs and habitat has been needlessly torn out.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/618ad6_8fd394de781e4c9fa0f5599af851d9e1~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_147,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/618ad6_8fd394de781e4c9fa0f5599af851d9e1~mv2.jpg)
Here are some more pics of this lovely bird.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/618ad6_2360f840492e4f518c4e1653def15d64~mv2_d_2557_2592_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_149,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/618ad6_2360f840492e4f518c4e1653def15d64~mv2_d_2557_2592_s_4_2.jpg)
Whereas here a flash of yellow, emerald, and red caught my eye on one of the lower roads in Kadoorie Farm.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/618ad6_2a27d3b2062e485686ceb599e6d95022~mv2_d_3291_2194_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_98,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/618ad6_2a27d3b2062e485686ceb599e6d95022~mv2_d_3291_2194_s_2.jpg)
Knowing that sunbirds feed on the hibisucs plants along the path, i sat and waited patiently, shooting into the sun in dark shadows, for the shot of the male above.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/618ad6_8258117ec5ab4799891cc8505e94507b~mv2_d_4057_2705_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_98,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/618ad6_8258117ec5ab4799891cc8505e94507b~mv2_d_4057_2705_s_4_2.jpg)
He was shortly joined by the female, no less lovely but olive and yellow, without his splendour.
To see them, look in the tops of shrubs and trees. The best places i have found include the Pavilions at the top of Kadoorie Farm (especially in February); outside the Mathilda hospital, looking over the sea, on the Peak; and in Lion's park in Sai Kung.