Disambiguation: For the species Chalcomitra amethystina, see Amethyst Sunbird (also called Black Sunbird)
- Leptocoma aspasia
Leptocoma sericea
Identification
11–11·5 cm
Male
- Mostly black plumage
- Bluish-green glossy head
- Greenish-blue gloss on rump
Distribution
Tropical south-east Asia and Australasia:
Southeast Asia: found in Indonesia, Greater Sundas, Sumatra, Sulawesi, Lesser Sundas, Moluccas
Australasia: New Guinea and the Melanesia
Taxonomy
Several Sunbirds (including this one) of the genus Nectarinia have recently been moved into the genus Leptocoma. Clements now gives the scientific name as Leptocoma sericea, however IOC and Howard & Moore agree on Leptocoma aspasia.
Subspecies
There are 23 subspecies[1]:
- L. a. talautensis: Talaud Island (Karakelong, Salebabu, Kabruang and Sara)
- L. a. sangirensis: Sangihe, Siau and Ruang islands
- L. a. grayi: Northern Sulawesi, Bangka, Lembeh, Manadotua and Bangka islands
- L. a. porphyrolaema: Eastern and southern Sulawesi, Muna, Labuan, Blanda, Butung and Togian islands
- L. a. auriceps: Banggai Island, Sula Island and Moluccas
- L. a. auricapilla: Kayoa Island (northern Moluccas)
- L. a. proserpina: Buru Island (southern Moluccas)
- L. a. aspasioides (chlorocephala): Southern Moluccas (Seram, Ambon, Nusa Laut and Watubela); winters to Aru Island
- L. a. chlorolaema: Kai Island
- L. a. aspasia: Mainland New Guinea (except for southeast)
- L. a. vicina: South-eastern New Guinea
- L. a. mariae: Kofiau Island (western New Guinea)
- L. a. cochrani: Misol and Waigeo islands (western New Guinea)
- L. a. maforensis: Numfor Island (Geelvink Bay off northern New Guinea)
- L. a. salvadorii: Yapen Island (Geelvink Bay off northern New Guinea)
- L. a. mysorensis: Biak Island (northern New Guinea)
- L. a. nigriscapularis: Meos Num and Rani islands (south of Biak Island)
- L. a. veronica: Liki Island (off northern coast of western New Guinea)
- L. a. cornelia: Tarawai Island (northern New Guinea off mouth of Sepik River)
- L. a. christianae: D'Entrecasteaux Archipelago and Louisiade Archipelago
- L. a. caeruleogula: southern Bismarck Archipelago (New Britain and associated islands, including Umboi, Sakar, Bali, and Watom)
- L. a. corinna: northeastern Bismarck Archipelago (New Ireland and associated islands, Lovangai south to Lihir, except for Feni Island)
- L. a. eichhorni: Feni Island (Bismarck Archipelago)
Habitat
They are found around the edges of various forests and woodland, including mangroves.
Behaviour
Diet
Their diet consists of fruit and nectar and a variety of arthropods.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2019. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Gill, F and D Donsker (Eds). 2016. IOC World Bird Names (version 6.3). Available at http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved November 2014)
- Wikipedia
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Black Sunbird. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 23 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Black_Sunbird
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
