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.
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link
eBird Species page: eBird (Van Hasselt's Sunbird)
References:
BirdLife International. (2016). Leptocoma brasiliana. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T103795247A104297009.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023
Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.
RECOMMENDED CITATION
Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Van Hasselt's Sunbird. Retrieved on December 8, 2023 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/van-hasselts-sunbird.