Van Hasselt’s Sunbird

Scientific Name: Leptocoma brasiliana
Malay Name: Kelicap Belacan Biasa
Chinese Name: 蓝肩花蜜鸟

Range:
Found from northeast India to Bangladesh, Southeast Asia and Greater Sundas

Taxonomy:
Polytypic. Subspecies are: brasiliana, emmae, mecynorhyncha, eumecis, axantha.

Local Subspecies: brasiliana

Size: 10 cm

Identification:
Male has distinctive iridescent green crown, purple throat and dark red lower breast and belly. Female can be separated from other sunbirds by combination of small size, dull olive-colored uppperparts, plain head and dull yellow underparts with olive-washed throat and upper breast.

Similar looking species: Copper-throated Sunbird

Habitat: Forests, forest edges, gardens, parks and mangroves.

Behaviour/Ecology:

Local Status: Uncommon resident

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)

Location: Central Catchment Forest, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Dairy Farm Nature Park, Bukit Batok Nature Park, Lower Pierce Reservoir, Singapore Botanic Gardens and Pulau Ubin.

Van Hasselt’s Sunbird at Jelutong Tower. Photo credit: Francis Yap

Male Van Hasselt’s Sunbird at Lower Peirce. Photo Credit: Francis Yap

Male Van Hasselt’s Sunbird at Lower Peirce. Photo Credit: Francis Yap

Male Van Hasselt’s Sunbird at Jelutong Tower. Photo Credit: Francis Yap

Van Hasselt’s Sunbird at Jelutong Tower. Photo credit: Francis Yap

Female Van Hasselt’s Sunbird at jelutong Tower. Photo credit: Francis Yap