Red-throated Sunbird Anthreptes rhodolaemus Scientific name definitions

12 cm; male 11·2 g, female 11·6 g. Male has crown to mantle dark metallic green, maroon band across upper back, rest of back, rump and uppertail-coverts violet; upperwing brown, greater wing-coverts edged rufous, remiges edged bright olive; tail blackish-brown, glossed green; side of face maroon, sometimes browner, especially on ear-coverts; stripe from bill along side of neck, also shoulder, glossed violet; throat pale pink, side of throat and narrow band on upper breast dull red, rest of underparts yellowish-olive; iris red; bill black; legs olive. Female has dull olive crown and upperparts, yellow eyering and stripe behind eye, olive-yellow below, brighter on lower breast and belly. Juvenile is similar to female, but greyer below, with yellow only on centre of throat to belly.

Patchily from extreme S Myanmar (S Tenasserim) and S peninsular Thailand to Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo.

Various forest types, including peatswamp-forest, secondary growth, plantations, clearings and coastal vegetation; sea-level to 900 m.

Nothing recorded.

Feeds on insects, including caterpillars, also spiders (Araneae); also pollen, nectar and small fruits, including figs (Ficus). Usually in canopy, but occasionally in lower storeys. Gleans foliage.

Various chirps and metallic trills; song a high "sit-sit-sit-see" or slurred "sit-sit-sit-swe-er"; "uu-is" or "tsuu-i", upwardly inflected.

Eggs in late Apr and fledglings mid-Aug in Malay Peninsula; in Borneo, birds with active gonads in Jun–Sept and fledgling in Aug in N (Sabah) and nest-building in Jun in S. Nest constructed of matted plant fibres, with dangling "tail", entrance beneath large eave in upper half, lined with dead leaves, exterior decorated with lichen-covered bark, suspended 9–20 m above ground on cord from tree at edge of clearing. Clutch 1 egg, pale lavender-purple, spotted, blotched and lined dark brown; no information on incubation and nestling periods.

Not globbally threatened. Currently considered Near Threatened. Uncommon in Myanmar and Malay Peninsula; rare in Sumatra; very uncommon in Borneo. Possible occurrence on Palawan, in W Philippines, requires investigation. Destruction of lowland forest puts this species potentially at risk; owing to its ability to utilize secondary and submontane forests and forest edge, however, it is not immediately threatened. Occurs in several protected areas, e.g. Taman Negara National Park, in Peninsular Malaysia, and Danum Valley Conservation Area, in Borneo.