Olive-backed sunbird

The Olive-backed sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis) belongs to the order Passeriformes and the family Nectariniidae. While generally recognized as pollinators, in specific horticultural contexts, these birds can cause significant damage to commercial fruit and flower crops, necessitating active monitoring and protection strategies.

These birds primarily target a wide range of crops, including various tropical fruits, berries, and ornamental flowering plants. In intensive agricultural settings, their feeding habits can lead to direct financial losses by reducing the quality and quantity of the marketable harvest of trees and shrubs.

The biology of the species involves an active nesting period that coincides with the growing season of many agricultural plants. They often build nests within dense canopy or on foliage, allowing them to remain in the immediate vicinity of their food source, which leads to persistent pressure on the target crops throughout the season.

The nature of damage includes mechanical injury to flower buds and petals, which disrupts pollination and fruit set. Furthermore, when feeding, these birds puncture the skin of ripening fruits, creating wounds that provide entry points for secondary infections such as fungi and bacteria, leading to rot and post-harvest spoilage.

To control their presence, farmers use integrated management techniques, including fine-mesh exclusion netting to cover valuable crops. Additionally, the use of visual deterrents like reflective tapes or predator decoys, combined with ultrasonic devices, can effectively keep them away. Regular harvest of ripe fruits and eliminating secondary food sources are essential practices to minimize the appeal of the orchard to these birds.