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Alternative name(s): Brown-throated Sunbird

Photo by arian001
Mandai Orchid Garden, Singapore

Anthreptes malacensis

Includes: Grey-throated Sunbird

[edit] Identification

Male: Pale brown throat and sides of head diagnostic. Upperparts dark iridescent green with rufescent olive tinge on wings, patch on shoulder, rump and uppertail coverts iridescent purple; underparts bright yellow

Female: Olive upperparts and bright yellowish underparts distinctive. Has indistinct narrow yellowish patch above and below the eye.

[edit] Similar Species

Female can be distinguished from female Olive-backed Sunbird by larger size, straighter bill and the lack of white in tail.

Photo by nothinghill
Thailand

[edit] Distribution

Myanmar to southern Indochina through the Malay Peninsula south to the Greater Sundas, Bali and the Philippines.

[edit] Taxonomy

[edit] Subspecies^[1]

• A. m. malacensis: Southern Burma to peninsula Thailand, Indochina, Sumatra and southern Borneo
• A. m. mjobergi: Maratua Island (off Borneo)
• A. m. borneensis: Northern Borneo (Sabah, Brunei and adjacent islands)
• A. m. birgitae: Northern Philippines (Luzon, Mindoro and Catanduanes)
• A. m. chlorigaster: Cebu, Masbate, Negros, Panay, Sibuyan, Tablas, Romblon, Ticao
• A. m. griseigularis: Philippines (Samar, Leyte, Sakuyok, Camiguin Sur, north-eastern Mindanao) - sometimes split as Grey-throated Sunbird
• A. m. heliolusius: Southern Philippines (Basilan, western and central Mindanao and Talicod)
• A. m. cagayensis: Cagayan Sulu Island (Sulu Sea)

Photo by Bob Philpott
Borneo, October 2009

• A. m. paraguae: Southern Philippines (Balabac, Culion, Palawan and Calauit)
• A. m. wiglesworthi: Sulu Archipelago (Bongao, Jolo, Tawitawi and Basbas)
• A. m. iris: Southern Philippines (Sibutu and Sitanki)
• A. m. heliocalus (sanghirara): Sangihe and Siau islands (off Sulawesi)
• A. m. celebensis (citrinus, nesophilus): Sulawesi and adjacent islands
• A. m. extremus: Banggai and Sula Islands
• A. m. convergens: Western Lesser Sundas (Lombok to Pantar and Alor)
• A. m. rubrigena: Sumba Island (Lesser Sundas)
• A. m. anambae: Anambas Island (South China Sea)

[edit] Habitat

Mangroves, beach scrub, riverine vegatation, forest edges, plantations and gardens.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Diet

Frequents trees as well as low shrubs. Very active and noisy, flitting about in search of nectar and small insects. Often feeds high on flowering coconut palms.

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
2. BF Member observations

• List of references

[edit] External Links