Unknown sunbird at Fraser's Hill, Malaysia (1 Viewer)

P

pietern2

Well-known member

• Aug 20, 2017

• #1

I have seen this sunbird at Fraser's Hill in Malaysia. I have noticed the orange on the bill and the light patches above and below the eye. There is no such sunbird in my guide however. Does anyone know which sunbird this is?

 

Attachments

• 
  DSC_1910.jpg

  184.1 KB · Views: 34
• 
  DSC_1907.jpg

  104.7 KB · Views: 27
• 
  DSC_1908.jpg

  178.9 KB · Views: 41

Last edited: Aug 20, 2017

viator

Well-known member

• Aug 20, 2017

• #2

Female Black-throated Sunbird

 

P

pietern2

Well-known member

• Aug 20, 2017

• #3

How certain are you? Why do you think this is a female Black-throated Sunbird? Neaither my bird guide, nor pictures on the internet show the orange on the bill or the light patches above and below the eye.

 

G

Grahame Walbridge

Well-known member

• Aug 20, 2017

• #4

Agree Black-throated Sunbird.

No problem with pale around eyes and the orange-yellow bill base means its a juvenile.

http://www.tsuru-bird.net/a_species/sunbird_black-throated/sunbird_black-throated_female_winter_thailand_1a.jpg

Grahame

 

P

pietern2

Well-known member

• Aug 20, 2017

• #5

What triggers the identification?

 

viator

Well-known member

• Aug 20, 2017

• #6

pietern2 said:

What triggers the identification?

Click to expand...

1. It looks like one
2. It doesn't look like any other Sunbird that occurs on Fraser's Hill.

Don't try to match everything to Robson illustrations - many subspecies and almost no juveniles are covered.

 

P

pietern2

Well-known member

• Aug 20, 2017

• #7

What about plain sunbird?

 

Andy Adcock

Worst person on Birdforum

• Aug 20, 2017

• #8

pietern2 said:

What about plain sunbird?

Click to expand...

That was my initial thought, no books here though and I won't argue with Grahame....


A

 

G

Grahame Walbridge

Well-known member

• Aug 20, 2017

• #9

pietern2 said:

What triggers the identification?

Click to expand...

Grey head and upper breast, dull underparts etc. Here is a very similar bird from the Cameron Highlands. The pale lids seems to be a variable feature and are not mentioned in literature. The orange soft parts which darken with age are a feature of most/all juvenile sunbirds. As Viator comments its a pretty typical Black-throated.

http://orientalbirdimages.org/search.php?Bird_Image_ID=42929&Bird_ID=2127&Bird_Family_ID=&Location=

Grahame

 

viator

Well-known member

• Aug 20, 2017

• #10

pietern2 said:

What about plain sunbird?

Click to expand...

Besides breast as Grahame mentions - bill wrong for Plain and even allowing for juvenile plumage forehead colouration also wrong.

 

P

pietern2

Well-known member

• Aug 20, 2017

• #11

Thanks for all the help.

 

A

andyb39

Well-known member

• Aug 20, 2017

• #12

Incidentally, Black-throated is the only sunbird found at the hill station, so there's no confusion species, although Ruby-cheek occurs lower down.