- Leptocoma brasiliana
Identification
10 cm
Male:
- Purple throat
- Red belly
- Green head
- Blackish-grey wings with diagnostic blue scapulars and a blue rump
Female:
- Olive-green below
- Yellow belly
Distribution
Asia: India, Bangladesh
Southeast Asia: Indochina, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Borneo, Malay Peninsula, Brunei, Singapore, Indonesia, Greater Sundas, Sumatra, Java, Lesser Sundas
Taxonomy
Several Sunbirds (including this one) of the genus Nectarinia have recently been moved into the genus Leptocoma.
Subspecies[1]
There are 9 subspecies:
- L. s. brasiliana: Southern Thailand to Burma, Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo and Java
- L. s. emmae: Cambodia to southern Laos and southern Vietnam
- L. s. mecynorhyncha: Simeulue, Banyak, Nias and Mentawi (off Sumatra)
- L. s. eumecis: Anambas Islands (South China Sea)
- L. s. axantha: North Natuna Islands (South China Sea)
- L. s. oenopa: Sumatra and Nias Island
Formerly considered conspecific with Purple-throated Sunbird.
Habitat
Coconut groves, mangroves, second growth and cultivated areas. Forest, and mature gardens, especially where there's flowering trees.
Behaviour
Diet
Nectar forms the major part of their diet, but they will also eat small insects.
Breeding
The female builds an oval nest from spider's web, young roots and other plant fibre; it is placed at a height of about 6 m. The clutch consists of 2 eggs.
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
- Avibase
- teachingtreasures.com.au
- BF Member observations
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2021) Van Hasselt's Sunbird. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 29 April 2021 from https://www.birdforum.net/wiki/Van_Hasselt%27s_Sunbird
