Van Hasselt’s Sunbird

Scientific Name: Leptocoma brasiliana

Malay Name: Kelicap Belacan Biasa

Range: Found from northeast India to Bangladesh, Southeast Asia and Greater Sundas

Taxonomy: Polytypic. Subspecies are: brasiliana, emmae, mecynorhyncha, eumecis, axantha.

Local Subspecies: brasiliana

Size: 10 cm

Identification: Male has distinctive iridescent green crown, purple throat and dark red lower breast and belly. Female can be separated from other sunbirds by combination of small size, dull olive-colored uppperparts, plain head and dull yellow underparts with olive-washed throat and upper breast.

Similar looking species:

Habitat: Forests, forest edges, gardens, parks and mangroves.

Behaviour/Ecology:

Local Status: Uncommon resident

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)

Location: Central Catchment Forest, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Dairy Farm Nature Park, Bukit Batok Nature Park, Lower Pierce Reservoir, Singapore Botanic Gardens and Pulau Ubin.