Hylocitrea Hylocitrea bonensis Scientific name definitions

Taxonomic note: Lump. This account is a combination of multiple species accounts originally published in HBW Alive. That content has been combined and labeled here at the subspecies level. Moving forward we will create a more unified account for this parent taxon. Please consider contributing your expertise to update this account.

Hylocitrea (Northern)

14–15 cm. Male has head brownish olive, crown dark olive-brown, rear ear-coverts and superciliary area slightly brighter, lores duskier; neck, mantle and upper back brownish slate-grey, middle and lower back, rump and uppertail-coverts yellow-olive; upperwing and tail brownish slate-grey, wings washed olive; brownish slate-grey below (somewhat lighter than back), chin, throat and to lesser extent breast washed olive, belly paler, flanks bright yellow-olive, undertail-coverts washed brownish cinnamon; iris scarlet or dark brown; bill black; legs dark grey. Female is like male, but has crown yellowish olive, throat cinnamon-buff with grey streaking. Juvenile has head and neck olive-brown, upperparts olive and underparts striped buff.

Hylocitrea (Southern)

14–15 cm. Male has head greenish olive, crown dusky, ear-coverts and superciliary area yellowish olive, lores duskier; neck, mantle, and upper and middle back brownish slate-grey, lower back, rump and uppertail-coverts yellow-olive; upperwing and tail brownish slate-grey, wing washed olive; chin, throat and breast dusky brown, belly paler, flanks olive-yellow, undertail-coverts washed bright brownish cinnamon; iris scarlet or dark brown; bill black; legs dark grey. Female is like male, but has throat cinnamon-buff with whitish streaking. Immature male has head and neck olive-brown, upperparts washed olive, underparts striped with pale brownish-buff.

Editor's Note: This article requires further editing work to merge existing content into the appropriate Subspecies sections. Please bear with us while this update takes place.

Hylocitrea (Northern)

Hitherto treated as conspecific with H. bonthaina (which see). Monotypic.

Hylocitrea (Southern)

Hylocitrea (Northern)

Mountains of N, C & SE Sulawesi.

Hylocitrea (Southern)

SW Sulawesi (Mt Lompobattang).

Hylocitrea (Northern)

Montane forest, especially moss forest; 1200–3500 m, mainly above 2000 m.

Hylocitrea (Southern)

Montane forest, especially moss forest; at least 1200–2740 m.

Hylocitrea (Northern)

Presumably sedentary.

Hylocitrea (Southern)

Hylocitrea (Northern)

Little known. Berries and some arthropods taken. Frequents middle storey and understorey. Joins mixed-species foraging flocks.

Hylocitrea (Southern)

Very little information has been published on the vocalizations of Hylocitrea, and indeed it appears to be a rather quiet species. Almost all of its vocalizations are very high-pitched, and for the most part probably overlooked. With the recent proposals to split the southern bonthaina, information on the vocal variation - if any - between it and the nominate is highly desired.

Vocal Array (Northern)

Song (type 1). ( ) Like most other vocalizations from the species, very high-pitched (7-10 kHz). Consists of a series of slightly variable phrases of up-down thin whistles, each phrase consisting of 4-5 notes and lasting between 0.5-1s, with the whole song containing anywhere from one to six phrases and lasting between 2-10s. This song type so far only recorded from the vicinity of Lore Lindu National Park, Central Sulawesi, where it appears to be the most common type based on the limited sample size (AJS). Variation between the recorded sample indicates that each bird may sing with unique phrases, but more study needed to bear this out. Playback of this vocalization elicited an immediate and strong response, with individuals either repeating the same song type or song type 3.

Song (type 2). A series of very high-pitched, thin, descending whistles between 7.5-9 kHz and lasting 0.2-0.5s each, with an entire song length around 4-5s. In a recording from southeastern Sulawesi (XC452152) the series accelerates slightly, while another from Lore Lindu National Park it starts out with notably longer gaps between notes before evening out into a regular tempo. Playback of this vocalization elicited a very weak or no response from several individuals at Lore Lindu National Park.

Song (type 3). ( ) Lower-pitched than the other song types; consists an initial descending high-pitched buzzy note around 9 kHz followed by a lower-pitched series of sharp chips around 7 kHz before finishing with another series of slightly higher-pitched rising buzzy notes around 7.5-8 kHz, the whole series lasting around 5-7s. As this vocalization was only heard from birds aggressively responding to playback it may be an agitated song, but more study needed.

Tsip. The most common call (and indeed vocalization) of the species, a very high-pitched (8 kHz), short (8-10 ms), clear overslurred note given at regular intervals. Not particularly distinctive and easily overlooked. Has been heard from birds foraging, responding to playback, and in flight (AJS).

Vocal Array (Southern)

No information.

Geographic Variation

No information.

Phenology

No information.

Daily Pattern of Vocalizing

Northern

Little information; Song type 1 and Song type 3 recorded both in the morning and middle of the day. Tsip call apparently given at all times of day.

Southern

No information.

Places of Vocalizing

Northern

Song type 1 heard only from birds in the subcanopy, and moving with mixed flocks. Song type 3, given as an aggressive reaction to playback, heard from a bird perched just above eye-level, and could probably be given at any height. Tsip call mostly heard from birds in the subcanopy, but also while flying, and while foraging closer to the ground.

Southern

No information.

Sex Differences

Northern

As far as is known songs only from the male; all recordings of Song type 1 and Song type 3 from male birds. Tsip call recorded from both males and females.

Southern

No information.

Repertoire and Delivery of Song

Northern

The limited sample size of recordings seems to suggest that each bird has distinctive phrasing in Song type 1, but more study needed to confirm this, and to see if each bird sings each type and/or has a specific version of each song type.

Southern

No information.

Social Context and Presumed Functions of Vocalizations

Northern

Song type 3 may be an agitated song type, as only known examples given in response to playback. Exact relation between the different song types is unknown and should be a focus of future studies of the vocalizations of this species. Tsip call appears to function as a contact call, but may also have additional functions.

Southern

No information.

Hylocitrea (Northern)

No information.

Hylocitrea (Southern)

Hylocitrea (Northern)

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Restricted-range species: present in Sulawesi EBA. Uncommon in lower part of range; moderately common to common at higher elevations. Occurs in Dumoga-Bone and Lore Lindu National Parks, as well as Gunung Ambang Nature Reserve. Believed not to be at any risk for the present.

Hylocitrea (Southern)

ENDANGERED. Restricted-range species: present in Sulawesi EBA. Very few recent records. Confined to a tiny range, estimated at just 1100 km² at southernmost tip of Sulawesi, within which population (speculated to number fewer than 10,000 individuals) is believed to be decreasing and is perhaps now found only at elevations above 1500 m. Within the species’ range, montane forest is becoming highly fragmented around Gunung Lompobattang due to selective logging and clearance for plantations, livestock grazing and encroachment by settlement and cultivation.