Sunbird female id help pls. S Thailand (1 Viewer)

[bhutjoe]

This photo was taken near Hat Yai, Songkhla province of Southern Thailand, on the top of a hill - at the stainless steel chedi should anyone be that familiar with the local
Looking at Robinson, all of the candidates are described as having yellowish bellies, but this appears very white to greyish undersides to me. I did see a male crimson sunbird close by a bit later.
Photo taken May 7, 2024 at around 10am.
The whitish undersides and tail do not seem to match to any of the descriptions in Robinson. I have not adjusted the photo in any way (only one I have unfortunately) but I was using overexposure to take the photo. There was a male crimson sunbird in the vicinity. But also I think a Van Hasselts.
Any and all comments and suggestions most gratefully appreciated.
thank you in advance
steve

 

[Butty]

this appears very white to greyish undersides to me

Underside is largely pale yellowish.
Greyish head and lots of white on undertail fits green-tailed sunbird - as shown in the Robson SE Asia guide.

 

[bhutjoe]

Thank you Butty, and not to disagree but to understand better, the diagram and description in Robson's appeared to me to be much darker breast. I know that not every bird is "text book" and my colour vision is not the same as others, so in asking to learn, do those points you have made override, so to speak, the "whiteness" of the belly?
Thank you again for your always informative and helpful comments.
I would note that green-tailed sunbird would be, according to eBird at least, most unusual here. Of course, that could be for many reasons, including simply lack of birding effort.
steve

 

[Grahame Walbridge]

Green-tailed only occurs at altitude (>1,500) and consequently has a very restricted range in the south i.e Khao Luang NP.

Looks like a female Crimson with IMO, very dull plumage, lacks any semblance of a supercilium, the underside of tail is misleading due to lighting, small pale tips are OK ML617872090 - Crimson Sunbird - Macaulay Library

Lacks the thin supercilium of Van Hasselt's + both bill and tail too long ML454030081 - Van Hasselt's Sunbird - Macaulay Library

Grahame

 

[bhutjoe]

Thank you Graham, I did see a male Crimson Sunbird in the area, and a van Hasselt's. Your explanation about lighting helps as the way the photo looks only green-tailed and fork-tailed seemed to have such a white tail, neither seeming likely in Songkhla as you point out.
Much appreciated
steve