Copper-throated Sunbird

Scientific Name: Leptocoma calcostetha
Malay Name: Kelicap Bakau
Chinese Name: 铜喉花蜜鸟

Range:
Found from mainland Southeast Asia to the Philippines, Sumatra, Java and Borneo

Taxonomy:
Monotypic.

Size: 14 cm

Identification:
Male is relatively long-tailed with distinctive iridescent green crown, shoulder-patch and uppertail-coverts, iridescent copper-red throat, purple flanks and blackish lower breast/belly. Female can be separated from other sunbirds by combination of greyish crown and head-sides, white throat and longish tail with white-tipped outer feathers.

Similar looking species: Van Hasselt’s Sunbird

Habitat: Mangroves

Behaviour/Ecology: Keeps mainly to the upper and middle storeys.

Local Status: Uncommon resident

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)

Location: Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and Pulau Ubin.

Photos:

Male Copper-throated Sunbird at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. Photo Credit: Francis Yap

Male Copper-throated Sunbird at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. Photo Credit: Alan Ng

Female Copper-throated Sunbird at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. Photo Credit: Alan Ng

Female Copper-throated Sunbird at Pulau Ubin. Photo Credit: Con Foley

Copper-throated Sunbird at SBWR. Photo credit: Francis Yap

Copper-throated Sunbird at SBWR. Photo credit: Francis Yap

External Links:
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page
Photos: Oriental Bird Images
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link
eBird Species page: eBird (Copper-throated Sunbird)

References:
BirdLife International. (2016). Leptocoma calcostetha. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22717794A94552451.en. Accessed on 19 December 2021

Jeyarajasingam, A., & Pearson, A. (2012). A Field Guide to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. Oxford University Press.

Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.