Brown-throated sunbird

The brown-throated sunbird (Anthreptes malacensis), also known as the plain-throated sunbird, is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae. It is found in a wide range of semi-open habitats in south-east Asia, ranging from Myanmar to the Lesser Sundas and west Philippines. The grey-throated sunbird found in the remaining part of the Philippines is often considered a subspecies of the brown-throated sunbird, but the two differ consistently in measurements and plumage, and there is no evidence of intergradation between them.

Taxonomy

The following subspecies are recognised:

• A. m. malacensis <small>(Scopoli, 1786)</small> – mainland Southeast Asia, Sumatra and satellite islands, most of Borneo aside from the north, Java and Bali
• A. m. anambae <small>Oberholser, 1917</small> – Anambas Islands
• A. m. erixanthus <small>Oberholser, 1932</small> – Natuna Islands
• A. m. bornensis <small>Riley, 1920</small> – north Borneo
• A. m. mjobergi <small>Bangs & Peters, JL, 1927</small> – Maratua
• A. m. paraguae <small>Riley, 1920</small> – Palawan
• A. m. heliolusius <small>Oberholser, 1923</small> – Mindanao
• A. m. wiglesworthi <small>Hartert, 1902</small> – Sulu Archipelago
• A. m. iris <small>Parkes, 1971</small> – Sibutu Islands
• A. m. chlorigaster <small>Sharpe, 1877</small> – Western Visayas
• A. m. cagayanensis <small>Mearns, 1905</small> – Mapun
• A. m. heliocalus <small>Oberholser, 1923</small> – Sangihe and Siau
• A. m. celebensis <small>Shelley, 1878</small> – Sulawesi and satellite islands
• A. m. extremus <small>Mees, 1966</small> – Banggai and Sula
• A. m. convergens <small>Rensch, 1929</small> – Lombok to Alor
• A. m. rubrigena <small>Rensch, 1931</small> – Sumba

Description

The brown-throated sunbird is a relatively large, heavy sunbird with a thick bill. Measuring some in length, it has a mass of , with males averaging slightly larger than females.

Like most sunbirds, the male brown-throated sunbird is more colourful than the female. The male has iridescent green and purple upperparts with chestnut on the wing-coverts and scapulars; it is primarily yellow below. The female is olive-green above and yellowish below.

Behaviour

The brown-throated sunbird primarily feeds on nectar, but it will also take small fruits and berries. Juveniles are fed with insects.

Gallery

References

• Cheke, Robert A., Mann, Clive F., & Allen, Richard. (2001). Sunbirds: A Guide to the Sunbirds, Flowerpeckers, Spiderhunters and Sugarbirds of the World. Christopher Helm, London. pp.&nbsp;184–186.