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This is a very common breeding resident found throughout the country except for the higher hills. It is an exquisitely coloured bird that visits nectering plants in home gardens in pairs. Other than in Sri Lanka this species is only found in southern India and Bangladesh.

The conservation status of this species is regarded as Least Concerned (National Red List 2012).

This is a species protected under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance as amended by Act No. 22 of 2009.

I have seen this species throughout the country except for the highest hills. It is found even in the city of Colombo. It is common in Jaffna peninsula and the Mannar Island. I have even seen in the Delft and at Analathivu Island of the coast of Jaffna. The highest altitude at which I have seen it has been at Haputale at an altitude of 1441 meters. In the Knuckles forest reserve I have seen it at Meemure at an altitude of 1310 meters.

This is a common species at Wilpattu and can be seen throughout the park.