Biology:South Moluccan sunbird

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Short description: Species of bird

South Moluccan 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. clementiae
Binomial name
Cinnyris clementiae
Lesson, RP, 1827

The south Moluccan sunbird (Cinnyris clementiae) is a species of bird in the sunbird family Nectariniidae that found on some of the Maluku Islands, between Sulawesi and New Guinea in Indonesia. It was formerly considered to be a subspecies of the olive-backed sunbird, now renamed the garden sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis).

Taxonomy

The south Moluccan sunbird was formally described in 1827 by the French naturalist René Lesson based on a specimen collected on Ambon Island. He coined the binomial name Cinnyris clementiae, choosing the specific epithet to honour his second wife, the artist and illustrator, Clémence Dumont.[1][2] 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.[3][4]

Three subspecies are recognised:[3]

  • C. c. buruensis Hartert, EJO, 1910 – Buru (central west Maluku Islands)
  • C. c. clementiae Lesson, RP, 1827 – Boana (northwest of Seram), Ambon, Seram (central east Maluku Islands) and the Watubela archipelago (south Maluku Islands)
  • C. c. keiensis Stresemann, 1913 – Kai Islands (southeast Maluku Islands)

Description

The south Moluccan 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 of the nominate subspecies is olive above, the remiges are black with green edging and the black tail has a white tip. The throat, side of neck, throat and breast are blue iridescent. The underparts are black. The iris is dark brown and the legs are black. The female lacks the iridescent throat and is greenish-olive above and yellow below. This species is distinguished from the other members of the olive-backed sunbird complex by the male having black rather than yellow underparts.[5][4]

Distribution and habitat

The south Moluccan sunbird is endemic to Buru, Seram Island and the Kai Islands in the Maluku Islands of Indonesia.[3] It is found in various habitats including mangroves, forest edge, open scrub as well as parks and gardens.[5]

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.[5]

Feeding

It forages either singly or in small groups. The diet consists of small insects, spiders, nectar and small fruit.[5]

References

  1. Lesson, René P. (1827) (in French). Dictionnaire des Sciences naturelles. 50. Strasbourg, Paris: F.G. Levrault. p. 15. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25313325. 
  2. 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. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 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/. 
  4. 4.0 4.1 Cheke, R.; Mann, C.; Kirwan, G.M.; Christie, D.A. (2023). "South Moluccan Sunbird (Cinnyris clementiae), 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.olbsun1.01. 
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 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. 

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