Purple-naped Spiderhunter Kurochkinegramma hypogrammicum Scientific name definitions

12·7–15 cm; male 7·8–15·2g, female 9·7–13·5 g. Distinctive large sunbird with streaked underside. Male nominate race is dark olive-green above, with metallic purple-blue nuchal band and lower back to uppertail-coverts, often some white bases showing through on rump; tail all dark olive, outer rectrices with white tips (all except central rectrices narrowly tipped white below); throat greyish-white, becoming olive-yellow downwards, vent dark olive-green, yellow to olive-yellow undertail-coverts; throat, breast and upper belly boldly streaked dark olive; iris red or brown; bill black to brownish-black; legs brown, brownish-green or olive. Female is smaller than male and lacks metallic coloration. Juvenile apparently undescribed. Racial differences rather subtle: lisettae is longer-billed than nominate, male gloss is distinctly purple, collar on average narrower than nominate, breast and abdomen paler yellow, undertail-coverts brighter yellow, no white in metallic colour of rump, and underside of all except central rectrices tipped yellowish-white; mariae male differs from previous in having upper surface of central rectrices black with narrow olive-green edges, remaining rectrices broadly tipped white, underparts less yellow than in other races; nuchalis male has gloss more purple and less blue than nominate, underside of all rectrices except central pair broadly tipped white; natunensis differs from last in having larger bill and more finely marked throat.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Variety of forest types, including peatswamp-forest, secondary growth, plantations, open swamps; occasionally in gardens. Sea-level to at least 1200 m.

None recorded.

Insects, spiders (Araneae), also nectar, fruits and seeds. Generally forages low down, below 5 m, but sometimes higher. Raids spider webs for trapped prey.

Song a high-pitched, strong “sweet-sweet-sweet, sweet, sweet”. Calls strident “schwerp”, sharp “chwep” and “tsit-tsit”.

Laying at least Mar and May–Jul in Malay Peninsula, where juveniles recorded Jan–Oct; in Borneo, laying Aug in NW (Sarawak), and birds with active gonads in Jan–Mar, May–Aug, Nov and Dec and nest-building Jan in N (Sabah). Nest pear-shaped or an untidy pendent ball, made of grass, rootlets, bark, lichen, dry moss, leaves and cobwebs, loosely decorated with various materials which may hang up to 15 cm below nest, lined with cotton down, and fixed to underside of plantain (Musa) leaf or palm frond 6 m above ground. Clutch 2–3 eggs, whitish with overall uneven suffusion of lilac-grey, with dark grey and black scribblings and irregular blotchings, especially at broad end; no information on incubation and nestling periods; fledglings attended by both parents.

Not globally threatened. Uncommon in Thailand; common in parts of S Laos; common in Peninsular Malaysia; locally common in Sumatra and Borneo. Occurs in several protected areas, including e.g. Cat Tien National Park, in Vietnam, Taman Negara National Park, in Peninsular Malaysia, Way Kambas National Park, in Sumatra, and Danum Valley Conservation Area, in Borneo.