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Sunbird in Thailand--Doi Inthanon NP (1 Viewer)

Tom St

Well-known member
Germany
Bird observed in Doi Inthanon National Park on 12th November 2022.
Thanks for your help!
 

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In case it helps to narrow down the ID, the bird was observed in the summit area (2500+ m), where the expected sunbird species are:
Green-tailed 83.7 %
Mrs. Gould's 48.9 %
Black-throated 5.1 %
given as % of complete checklists that reported the species (based on 1200+ eBird checklists).

Though I recognize that sunbird females such as this one may need to stay unidentified.
 
Hi, cannot help ID but I thought I would bump it up in hopes of interesting someone who can:) I am interested to learn which sunbird it is as well.
all the best
steve
 
When I was up there it was all Mrs. Gould's (at least the ones I could tell).
I think that while Green-tailed is the target people are looking for, it's not as common as the other.

Regarding the ID: sorry, I'll pass
 
Firstly, your ebird stats are a little misleading since Mrs Gould's is only a winter visitor while the other 2 species are resident, Green-tailed is reasonably common at high elevations (>2,000m), the local ssp. angkanensis is endemic to Inthanon, Black-throated favours lower elevations (>2,000m) so is the scarcer of the 3 in winter at this elevation.

Females of these 3 Sunbirds are a tricky trio, there plumages very, very similar. One really needs a view of the rump and a close look at the tail., preferably of the underside. Also, check to see if a male is in close proximity which can often offer a clue to the identity of a female.

Now, looking at your bird the images are testing, but I'd start by ruling out Black-throated (underparts too bright) and would suggest Green-tailed based on the complete grey hood (lacking paler throat) and the long and graduated tail, the central pair elongate ML617044751 - Green-tailed Sunbird (Doi Inthanon) - Macaulay Library compare this Mrs Gould's ML417267371 - Mrs. Gould's Sunbird (Scarlet-breasted) - Macaulay Library Further, note more extensive white tips to tail of Green-tailed which is suggested in the OP but angle makes it difficult to judge with certainty.

Grahame
 
You are right about the eBird stats, Grahame, my bad. But when I limit the analysis to the month of November, the numbers do not change much.

Find attached the only other photos I have. Though they do not show tail underside or rump well either.

Either way, thanks a bunch for the valuable knowledge so far, Grahame.
 

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