Articles

One That Is Lovely

Only a few birds in the world are adorned with such vibrant colors mixed in an iconic palette that makes them stand out from the rest. Some of these birds can even stand out with their names alone, shying away from the descriptive words and going for a unique character with a flare. The bird in talks for this post hails from the Greater Palawan region. This bird’s vibrant palette is adorned with accenting Yellows, pale Greens, vivid Reds, and iridescent Blues. 

 

This bird is the Lovely Sunbird, a bird that truly encompasses its Lovely name with its lovely palette. 

 

This is my first photograph of the Lovely Sunbird and my first photograph of a Sunbird ever! To add to the firsts, this Lovely Sunbird was photographed during my first WBPP Puerto Princesa Bird Race!

The Lovely Sunbird was one of the birds I was stunned by when I first saw it. I vividly remember standing on a ledge waiting for the Sunbird to perch out in the open. The area was calm, so the bird naturally hopped everywhere, and we just had to follow it. But once the Lovely Sunbird started to dart from the foliage onto the open area, I knew from that moment that I had to capture the beauty of this unique species. Alas, this was the result of 15-year-old Vinz’s excitement for the species. A Lovely Sunbird out in the open showcasing his vibrant colors in a dynamic pose with pleasing bokeh. 

Photographed by Vinz Pascua

LOVELY SUNBIRD
Aethopyga shelleyi
Least Concern, Philippine Endemic (Palawan)

Palawan, May 2016

Canon EOS 7D + Tamron 150-600mm F5-6.3 Di VC
ISO 800, f/6.3, 1/250, Aperture Priority, Evaluative Metering

Vinz Pascua

Wildlife Photographer, Graphic Designer, and Digital Artist for Haring Ibon. He’s also an active member of the Wild Bird Photographers of the Philippines (WBPP) since 2020. 

Visit www.vinzpascua.com for his photography, art, and design works. 

Scroll to Top