Table of Contents

cover image

Volume 21, Number 18
16 September 2002

pp 4749-5005

Cover. Olive-backed sunbirds (Nectarinia jugularis) are members of the family Nectariniidae, which includes small nectar- and insect-eating birds, such as flowerpeckers, spiderhunters and sunbirds. Olive-backed sunbirds are relatively common in South East Asia and often build their nests near human habitations. The nests are roughly woven, pendulous structures with an opening at the top of the pouch and a characteristic thatched 'roof' above it. Normally two eggs are laid and the male and female adults take turns in feeding the chicks. This image captures a female bird, perched on the side of the nest, delivering food to her chicks that will fledge in about two days' time. This nest was found in a private orchid garden in an area of central Singapore that borders secondary jungle. The photographer Graeme Guy (see Wong et al., pp. 4796--4808) used a Canon EOS1n, 500 mm lens, plus 1.4&mult; extender, 550EX flash,1/100th sec, f8.

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