- Leptocoma sperata
Identification
10 cm
Male:
- Purple throat
- Red belly
- Green head
- Blackish-grey wings with a blue band
Female:
- Olive-green below
- Yellow belly
Distribution
Endemic to the Philippines.
Taxonomy
Several Sunbirds (including this one) of the genus Nectarinia have recently been moved into the genus Leptocoma.
Subspecies[1]
There are 3 subspecies:
- L. s. henkei: Philippines (Luzon, Babuyan Claro, Calayan, Camiguin Norte)
- L. s. sperata: Northern Philippines (Luzon, Polillo, Catanduanes and Marinduque)
- L. s. juliae: Southern Philippines (western Mindanao, Basilan and Sulu Archipelago)
Formerly considered conspecific with Van Hasselt's Sunbird.
Habitat
Coconut groves, mangroves, second growth and cultivated areas. Forest, and mature gardens, especially where there's flowering trees.
Behaviour
Diet
Nectar forms the major part of their diet, but they will also eat small insects.
Breeding
The female builds an oval nest from spider's web, young roots and other plant fibre; it is placed at a height of about 6 m. The clutch consists of 2 eggs.
References
- Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
- Avibase
- teachingtreasures.com.au
- BF Member observations
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Purple-throated Sunbird. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 4 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Purple-throated_Sunbird
