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 (IUCN 3.1)

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 (BirdLife: Nectarinia calcostetha)
Photos: Oriental Bird Images
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link

Reference:
Craig Robson (2011) A Field Guide to the Birds of South-East Asia
Allen Jeyarajasingam & Alan Pearson (2012) A Field Guide to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore