However, it was a unique experience to see this sunbird immersing herself upside down in water contained in an ornamental flower petal, like a lady in a bathtub. It’s quite common to find birds refreshing themselves in the evening, visiting puddles and pools, dipping their heads, and wetting their wings and body. Her thirst quenched, she then started bathing in the water stored in this banana flower petal. Late one evening, a female Crimson Sunbird suddenly arrived and started sipping nectar.

Typically, these flowers point towards the ground, but in some ornamental species they point skywards and some of their outer petals open up like cups, holding water from rain or dew. I was keen to capture images of Crimson Sunbirds drinking nectar from banana flowers. To set the scene, here in India autumn days (when the photo was taken) are typically hot and humid – sporadic rains interspersed with sweltering heat – while the nights are cold. “This image was taken at North Bengal Agricultural University in Cooch Behar, West Bengal.

Pis art birds flying