Alternative names: Shelley's Sunbird; Red-shouldered Sunbird; Rufous-throated Sunbird
- Anthreptes rhodolaemus
Identification
12cm.
Male
- Metallic-green crown to mantle
- Marron band across upper back
- Violet rest of back, rump and uppertail-coverts
- Brown upperwings, rufous edged greater wing-coverts
- Blackish-brown tail
- Maroon side of face, browner on ear-coverts
- Glossed violet stripe from bill along side of neck and shoulder
- Pale pink throat
- Dull red side of throat and narrow band on upper breast
- Yellowish-olive rest of underparts
Female
- Dull olive crown and upperparts
- Yellow eyering and stripe behind eye
- Olive-yellow underparts, brighter on lower breast and belly
Juveniles are similar to females but greyer below.
Distribution
Patchily distributed from extreme southern Burma and southern peninsular Thailand to peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo.
Uncommon to rare. Threatened by habitat destruction.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
Closely related to Brown-throated Sunbird and Grey-throated Sunbird.
Habitat
Moist lowland forests and forest edges.
Occurs from sea-level up to 900m.
Behaviour
Feeds on insects, spiders, pollen, nectar and small fruits.
Forages mainly in the canopy.
The nest is made of matted plant fibres. it's suspended around 9 - 20m above the ground on a cord from a tree at the edge of a clearing. Lays 1 egg.
No movements known.
References
- Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2008. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 13: Penduline-tits to Shrikes. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553453
- Avibase
- BirdLife International
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Red-throated Sunbird. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 19 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Red-throated_Sunbird
