Lesser Green Leafbird Chloropsis cyanopogon Scientific name definitions

15–16·2 cm; male 20·3–22·8 g, female 18·5–20·5 g (cyanopogon). Male nominate race has a trace of brassy yellow on forehead, black facial mask (enclosing part of eye) and chin to uppermost breast, cobalt-blue flash along jawline; viridian-green patch on lesser upperwing-coverts; rest of plumage slightly glossy grass-green, a shade paler below, and brightest narrowly around edge of bib; iris dark brown; bill blackish, or with slaty lower mandible; feet grey to lead-blue. Distinguished from C. sonnerati by smaller size, lighter build, yellow on forehead, black of mask usually extending less far down breast, no yellow on primaries. Female lacks mask, has jawline flash paler. Juvenile is female-like, but lacks jawline flash, has yellow eyering and throat. Race septentrionalis is on average smaller than nominate, with stronger brassy wash over anterior cap of both sexes, male has narrow but clear yellow border to black bib.

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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.

Canopy and high edge of lowland evergreen forest, including peatswamp-forest, mature and regenerating, well-grown secondary forest, also fruiting trees and shrubs of clearings, and high shade cover of plantations; exceptionally, strand woodland on coasts. Sea-level to 700 m on submontane slopes; a few records to 1100 m (i.e. into base of montane forest) in Peninsular Malaysia.

Resident.

Generalist; diet arthropods, fruits , occasionally flower nectar. Arthropods gleaned from canopy foliage, include caterpillars, beetles (Coleoptera), flies (Diptera); chases flushed items. Fruits taken include many types of fig (Ficus), to maximum width of 27 mm; among diverse berries, Eugenia, Loranthus, Pipturus, Callicarpa, Muntingia, Poikilospermum species identified. Small fruit items eaten directly; intermediate-sized, tough-coated items are pierced, and the contents then loosened and squeezed out by using the bill. Flower-visiting unusual, but recorded at eucalypt (Eucalyptus) blossoms, and seen to obtain nectar of an epiphytic gesneriad by puncturing the tubular flowers at base of corolla. Forages alone or as a pair; often joins mixed-species flocks of other insectivores.

Song a loud, varied sequence of rich warbling phrases including deep, mellow notes and frequent doubled elements.

Adults with enlarged gonads during late Feb–Aug; an instance of nest-building in late Jun, and nestlings and recent fledglings in Apr and Jun. Solitary breeder. Nest not described, built in outer part of lateral branch high above ground, once 12 m up. Clutch size and incubation and fledging periods not recorded.

Not globally threatened. Currently considered Near-threatened. More or less common where habitat remains, but has disappeared from substantial areas of range as a result of forest clearance. Occurs in several protected areas, including Khao Para-Bang Khram Wildlife Sanctuary (Thailand), Danum Valley Conservation Area (Borneo) and Way Kambas ­National Park (Sumatra).