Scientific Name: Chalcoparia singalensis
Malay Name: Kelicap Pipi Merah
Chinese Name: 紫颊直嘴太阳鸟
Range:
Found from the Indian subcontinent to southern China and Southeast Asia (except the Philippines)
Taxonomy:
Polytypic. Subspecies are: assamensis, koratensis, internota, interposita, singalensis, sumatrana, panopsia, pallida, borneana, bantenensis, phoenicotis.
Local Subspecies: singalensis
Size: 11 cm
Identification:
Male resembles Brown-throated Sunbird with iridescent dark green upperparts but has iridescent copper-red ear-coverts, pale orange-rufous throat and upper-breast. Female can be distinguished from other sunbirds by its greenish-olive upperparts, pale orange-rufous throat and upper-breast and yellow belly.
Similar looking species: Brown-throated Sunbird
Habitat: Forest and mangroves.
Behaviour/Ecology: Frequents the canopy and middle storey.
Local Status: Very rare non-breeding visitor
Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)
Location: Only a single confirmed record of a female photographed and seen at close range by a group of visiting British birdwatchers at Central Catchment Forest on 24 Sep 2005. There were also unconfirmed records from Pulau Ubin and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.
Photos:
External Links:
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page
Photos: Oriental Bird Images
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link
References:
BirdLife International. (2016). Chalcoparia singalensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. Downloaded on 2 September 2021
Jeyarajasingam, A., & Pearson, A. (2012). A Field Guide to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. Oxford University Press.
Robson, C. (2008). A Field Guide to the Birds of South-East Asia. New Holland Publishers.
Wells, D. (1999). Birds of Thai-Malay Peninsula. Academic Press.