Brown-throated sunbird
The brown-throated sunbird, 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 – mainland Southeast Asia, Sumatra and satellite islands, most of Borneo aside from the north, Java and BaliA. m. anambae Oberholser, 1917 – Anambas IslandsA. m. erixanthus Oberholser, 1932 – Natuna IslandsA. m. bornensis Riley, 1920 – north BorneoA. m. mjobergi Bangs & Peters, JL, 1927 – MaratuaA. m. paraguae Riley, 1920 – PalawanA. m. heliolusius Oberholser, 1923 – MindanaoA. m. wiglesworthi Hartert, 1902 – Sulu ArchipelagoA. m. iris Parkes, 1971 – Sibutu IslandsA. m. chlorigaster Sharpe, 1877 – Western VisayasA. m. cagayanensis Mearns, 1905 – MapunA. m. heliocalus Oberholser, 1923 – Sangihe and SiauA. m. celebensis Shelley, 1878 – Sulawesi and satellite islandsA. m. extremus Mees, 1966 – Banggai and Sula A. m. convergens Rensch, 1929 – Lombok to AlorA. m. rubrigena Rensch, 1931 – SumbaDescription
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.