23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Wildlife
Star Fruit Nectar - Hometown Jewel

A vibrant, jewel-toned Sunbird delicately sips nectar from the blossom of a Star Fruit tree (Averrhoa carambola) in Tao Dan Park, HCMC. This scene is particularly meaningful in Vietnamese culture, as the Star Fruit is often celebrated in poetry as a symbol of hometown and enduring love. The bird's iridescent blue-green head and crimson chest are framed against the tree's soft, luminous green foliage, creating a perfect study in tropical color and urban wildlife patience.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 06.2024
Date Uploaded: 11.2025
Photo Location: HCM, Vietnam
Camera: NIKON Z 8
Copyright: © Hung Phung QUang