Biology:Flores Sea sunbird

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Short description: Species of bird

Flores Sea sunbird
Not evaluated (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Nectariniidae
Genus: Cinnyris
Species:
C. teysmanni
Binomial name
Cinnyris teysmanni
Büttikofer, 1893

The Flores Sea sunbird (Cinnyris teysmanni) is a species of bird in the sunbird family Nectariniidae that found on several small islands in the Flores Sea. It was formerly considered to be a subspecies of the olive-backed sunbird, now renamed the garden sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis).

Taxonomy

The Flores Sea sunbird was formally described in 1893 by the Swiss zoologist Johann Büttikofer based on a specimen that had been collected by the Dutch botanist Johannes Elias Teijsmann. Büttikofer placed it with the sunbirds in the genus Cinnyris and coined the binomial name Cinnyris teysmanni where the specific epithet was chosen to honour the collector.[1] Büttikofer believed that his specimen had been obtained near the port of Makassar in Sulawesi but this was an error as this species does not occur there and in 1896 the German orthithologist Ernst Hartert designated the island of Tanah Jampea in the Flores Sea as the type locality.[2][3] It was formerly considered as a subspecies of the olive-backed sunbird (renamed as the garden sunbird) (Cinnyris jugularis) but is now treated as a separate species based on the difference in plumage.[4][5] The species is monotypic: no subspecies are recognised.[4]

Description

The Flores Sea sunbird is 10–11.4 cm (3.9–4.5 in) in length. The male weighs 6.7–11.9 g (0.24–0.42 oz), the female 6–10 g (0.21–0.35 oz). The species is sexual dimorphic. The male is brownish above, the remiges are black with green edging and the black tail has a white tip. The throat, is dark purple of purple-green with green at the sides. Below the throat patch is a dark chestnut or maroon band. The underparts are black with a purple gloss. The iris is dark brown and the legs are black. The female is greenish-olive above, pale yellow below and has a yellow supercilium. The Flores Sea sunbird can be distinguished from the other members of the olive-backed sunbird complex by the male having brown rather than olive-green upperparts and black rather than yellow underparts.[6]

Distribution and habitat

The Flores Sea sunbird is found on the islands of Tanah Jampea, Pulau Kaloa, Pulau Bonerate, Kalaotoa and Palu Madu in the Flores Sea.[5] It occupies various habitats including mangroves, forest edge, open scrub as well as parks and gardens.[6]

Behaviour and ecology

Breeding

The elongated hanging nest is built by the female. It is 30–60 cm (12–24 in) in length and has a side entrance. The clutch of 1–3 eggs is incubated by the female. The eggs hatch after 11-16 days and the young are fed by both parents until they fledge after 13–16 days.[6]

Feeding

It forages either singly or in small groups. The diet consists of small insects, spiders, nectar and small fruit.[6]

References

  1. Büttikofer, Johann (1893). "On two new species of birds from South Celebes". Notes from the Leyden Museum 15: 179-181 [179]. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/12957292. 
  2. Hartert, Ernst (1896). "On orthiological collections made by Mr. Alfred Everett in Celebes and on the islands south of it". Novitates Zoologicae 3: 148–183 [168]. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/3218430. 
  3. Paynter, Raymond A. Jr, ed (1986). Check-List of Birds of the World. 12. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Museum of Comparative Zoology. p. 246. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/14482363. 
  4. 4.0 4.1 Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds (December 2023). "Dippers, leafbirds, flowerpeckers, sunbirds". IOC World Bird List Version 14.1. International Ornithologists' Union. https://www.worldbirdnames.org/bow/ovenbirds/. 
  5. 5.0 5.1 Cheke, R.; Mann, C.; Kirwan, G.M.; Christie, D.A. (2023). "Flores Sea Sunbird (Cinnyris teysmanni), version 1.0". in Keeney, B.K.; Billerman, S.M.. Birds of the World. Ithaca, NY, USA: Cornell Lab of Ornithology. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.olbsun8.01. 
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Cheke, R.A.; Mann, C.F. (2008). "Family Nectariniidae (Sunbirds)". in del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Christie, D.A.. Handbook of the Birds of the World. 13: Penduline-tits to Shrikes. Barcelona, Spain: Lynx Edicions. pp. 196-321 [296-297]. ISBN 978-84-96553-45-3. https://archive.org/details/handbookofbirdso0013unse/page/296/mode/1up. 

Wikidata ☰ Q124216876 entry