Animalia Life
Anthreptes malacensis
SUBFAMILY
Nectariniinae
TAXONOMY
Certhia malacensis Scopoli, 1786, Malacca. Seventeen subspecies.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: Brown-throated sunbird, gray-throated sunbird;
French: Souimanga б gorge brune; German: Braunkehl-
Nektarvogel; Spanish: Nectarina de Garganta Descolorida.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
5.5 in (14 cm); 0.26–0.48 oz (7.4–13.5 g). Metallic green from
head to back with dark brown cheek, throat, and wings; purplish
tail and yellow underparts.
DISTRIBUTION
Two main groups of subspecies. The malacensis group includes
15 subspecies occurring in various islands of the west and
southwest Philippines, Borneo, the Celebes, Myanmar, Indochina,
the Malay Peninsula, Thailand, and Indonesia. The griseigularis
group includes two subspecies found in the eastern
and northern Philippines.
HABITAT
Forest, woodland, mangroves, bamboos, coastal vegetation,
swamps, coconut groves, and gardens from sea level up to
3,900 ft (1,200 m).
BEHAVIOR
Aggressive toward other small birds. Often in low bushes but
feeds at all heights, sometimes in large groups or in mixedspecies
parties.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Feeds on nectar of citrus, mistletoes, and other flowers. Also
takes fruits, insects, and spiders.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Males sing from prominent perches. Two eggs laid in pearshaped
nest suspended 3.3–42.6 ft (1–13 m) up, made of grass,
plant fibers, and cobwebs. Slivers of bark on outside, lined with
tree-cotton or moss. Young fledge two weeks after hatching.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not threatened.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
Pollinates Nicolaia elatior, the buds of which are used as spices.
Photo Gallery of - Plain-throated sunbird
