The Palawan sunbird was formally described in 1878 by the Scottish ornithologist, the Marquess of Tweeddale based on a specimen collected in Puerto Princesa on the island of Palawan in the Philippines.

[3] The Palawan sunbird is now placed in the genus Cinnyris that was introduced in 1816 by the French naturalist Georges Cuvier.

It was formerly considered as a subspecies of the olive-backed sunbird (renamed the garden sunbird) (Cinnyris jugularis) but is now treated as a separate species based on the colour of the breast plumage.

[6] It occupies various habitats including the forest edge and open scrub.

[5] The elongated hanging nest is 30–60 cm (12–24 in) in length and has a hooded side entrance.

It is constructed by the female using grass, bark, moss, lichens, leaf fragments, vegetable fibres and spider webs.