Disambiguation: For the species Chalcomitra amethystina, see Amethyst Sunbird (also called Black Sunbird)
- Leptocoma sericea
Identification
11–11·5 cm
Male
- Mostly black plumage
- Bluish-green glossy head
- Greenish-blue gloss on rump
Distribution
Tropical south-east Asia and Australasia:
Southeast Asia: found in Indonesia, Greater Sundas, Sumatra, Sulawesi, Lesser Sundas, Moluccas
Australasia: New Guinea and the Melanesia
Taxonomy
Several Sunbirds (including this one) of the genus Nectarinia have recently been moved into the genus Leptocoma. That seems to have necessitated a complete change of the scientific name, from Nectarinia aspasia to Leptocoma sericea.
Subspecies
There are 23 subspecies[1]:
- L. s. talautensis: Talaud Island (Karakelong, Salebabu, Kabruang and Sara)
- L. s. sangirensis: Sangihe, Siau and Ruang islands
- L. s. grayi: Northern Sulawesi, Bangka, Lembeh, Manadotua and Bangka islands
- L. s. porphyrolaema: Eastern and southern Sulawesi, Muna, Labuan, Blanda, Butung and Togian islands
- L. s. auriceps: Banggai Island, Sula Island and Moluccas
- L. s. auricapilla: Kayoa Island (northern Moluccas)
- L. s. proserpina: Buru Island (southern Moluccas)
- L. s. aspasioides (chlorocephala): Southern Moluccas (Seram, Ambon, Nusa Laut and Watubela); winters to Aru Island
- L. s. chlorolaema: Kai Island
- L. s. sericea: Mainland New Guinea (except for southeast)
- L. s. vicina: South-eastern New Guinea
- L. s. mariae: Kofiau Island (western New Guinea)
- L. s. cochrani: Misol and Waigeo islands (western New Guinea)
- L. s. maforensis: Numfor Island (Geelvink Bay off northern New Guinea)
- L. s. salvadorii: Yapen Island (Geelvink Bay off northern New Guinea)
- L. s. mysorensis: Biak Island (northern New Guinea)
- L. s. nigriscapularis: Meos Num and Rani islands (south of Biak Island)
- L. s. veronica: Liki Island (off northern coast of western New Guinea)
- L. s. cornelia: Tarawai Island (northern New Guinea off mouth of Sepik River)
- L. s. christianae: D'Entrecasteaux Archipelago and Louisiade Archipelago
- L. s. caeruleogula: Bismarck Archipelago (New Britain, Rook and Umboi)
- L. s. corinna: Bismarck Archipelago (except Feni Island)
- L. s. eichhorni: Feni Island (Bismarck Archipelago)
Habitat
They are found around the edges of various forests and woodland, including mangroves.
Behaviour
Diet
Their diet consists of fruit and nectar and a variety of arthropods.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2014. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.9., with updates to August 2014. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Avibase
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved November 2014)
- Wikipedia
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Black Sunbird. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 7 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Black_Sunbird
