Saturday 30 March 2019

Crimson Sunbird (Aethopyga siparaja)

OTHER NAMES: Goulpourah Sunbird, Eastern Crimson Sunbird
Latin Etymology: Aethopyga ("fire rump") siparaja (from Malay species name)
Adult male Crimson Sunbird (subspecies A. s. siparajaat Sungei Buloh, Singapore - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Aethopyga siparaja siparaja
Weight: 5-7g  /  Length: 11cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Crimson Sunbird definitely lives up to it's name, with brilliant vivid red on it's chest and a deeper richer colour on it's nape.  While a bird of forest edge typically, this specific bird was interacting with human structures in a very specific way - it was visiting the water fountain for visitors to Sungeih Buloh and taking advantage of it itself to get a drink in a relatively protected location - a smart little bird indeed!

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Nectariniidae
Genus: Aethopyga
SUBSPECIES: A. s. seheriae, A. s. labecula, A. s. owstoni, A. s. tonkinensis, A. s. mangini, A. s. insularis, A. s. cara, A. s. trangensis, A. s. siparaja, A. s. nicobarica, A. s. heliogona, A. s. natunae, A. s. flavorstriata, A. s. beccarii

 - Sighting Locations -
CAMBODIA Khmer name: ចាបកន្លង់ក្រហម ("Red Sparrow")
 A local resident.
 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: One at Prek Toal
SINGAPORE - A fairly common resident
 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: One at at Sungei Buloh

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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