First Record of Purple Sunbird in Central Vietnam




© William Hearn


By Maurizio Saroli


On 6 September 2025 at My Son Sanctuary, Quang Nam, I observed and made an audio recording of a male Purple Sunbird Cinnyris asiaticus which was singing in a tree amongst the ancient Cham ruins. This sighting represents the first record for Annam. Comparative plumage and vocal analysis are discussed below.

Accompanied by a sharp, high-pitched call, the male Purple Sunbird Cinnyris asiaticus is compact and glossy, with deep violet-black plumage in breeding condition. In eclipse plumage, as observed on 6 September, the male appears duller, with brownish tones and faint iridescence visible only in direct light. Females are olive brown above and buff below, with a pale yellow throat. Both sexes share a short, decurved bill and rapid, darting flight.

The Purple Sunbird is a fast-moving, nectar-feeding passerine typically found in open scrub and gardens across southern Asia. Foraging is quick and deliberate, with short hovering bouts and frequent perch changes. Nectar is the primary food source, but small insects are taken during the breeding season. Prey is gleaned from foliage or caught mid-air in brief sallies.

Breeding behaviour in Vietnam remains undocumented, but in other regions, nesting occurs from February to May. Nests are suspended from thin branches and constructed with plant fibres and spider silk. The female builds and incubates alone, while the male may defend the territory vocally. Nest placement favours semi-open sites with overhead cover.

The Purple Sunbird is not difficult to identify, but it is easily overlooked. Its small size, rapid movement and preference for dense foliage mean it often escapes notice unless actively sought. Compared to the more familiar Ornate Sunbird Cinnyris ornatus, which is also resident in Annam, Purple Sunbird has a darker, more uniform plumage.



© Abhijit Mishra

The male Ornate Sunbird in breeding plumage shows an iridescent blue-black throat and breast trimmed with a maroon breast-band, both of which asiaticus shares. However, upperparts are olive and underparts are yellow, which differs markedly from the entirely blue-black iridescence and subtle violet gloss of asiaticus. In eclipse plumage, asiaticus becomes cryptic, resembling a duller female or juvenile of other sunbird species.


Vocalisations offer a reliable point of distinction. Purple Sunbird produces a high-pitched, metallic trill with short rising phrases, often repeated in bursts. In contrast, Ornate Sunbird delivers a more complex, warbling song with descending notes and occasional buzzy interjections. Spectrograms showing frequency and structure differences of both species' songs are pictured below. The recording of Purple Sunbird was made by the author on 6 September.



Purple Sunbird


Ornate Sunbird


This single sighting adds a new data point for Purple Sunbird in Annam, where the species has not previously been documented. Its presence at My Son Sanctuary, though brief, raises important questions about dispersal, seasonal movement and the potential for overlooked populations in transitional habitats.

The audio recording captured during the observation provides a valuable reference for future fieldwork, offering both a diagnostic vocal signature and a baseline for comparison. Continued monitoring, especially during late summer and early autumn, may help clarify whether this individual represents a stray, a dispersing juvenile, or part of a broader but under-recorded pattern.


2026 Update

During two recent visits to My Son on 21 March and 27 March I made additional audio recordings of singing males and observed one and four individuals respectively on each visit. The second sighting included a male in breeding plumage together with a female, providing visual confirmation of this species' breeding status in Annam. Checklists, including audio recordings, can be viewed here: 




Maurizio is the contributing editor of DBC News, part of Danang Bird Club, a non-profit organisation focused on citizen science, education and advocacy for the conservation of Vietnamese avifauna. He is the author of Birdwatching in Central Vietnam; a guide to the region’s rich avian diversity. Originally from London, Maurizio was a member of the British Trust for Ornithology and took part in national bird surveys like the Nest Record Scheme and the Breeding Bird Survey before bringing his passion for ornithology to Vietnam. 



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