Metallic-winged sunbird

The metallic-winged sunbird (Aethopyga pulcherrima) is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae. It is endemic to the Philippines.

Metallic-winged sunbird
ssp. jefferyi
ssp. pulcherrima
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Nectariniidae
Genus:	Aethopyga
Species:	A. pulcherrima
Binomial name
Aethopyga pulcherrima Sharpe, 1876

Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forests and tropical moist montane forests. This species was formerly three species named the Luzon sunbird, Mindanao sunbird and Bohol sunbird but has since been lumped into a single species.

Description and taxonomy

Ebird describes it as "A small bird with a fairly long, curved bill of lowland and foothill forest and forest edge in the Philippines. Male has bluish-green iridescence on the forehead, cheek, and shoulder, and a yellow throat and chest with an orange smudge. Female is washed-out yellow below with a whitish throat. Similar to Lina's Sunbird, but male has a shorter, rounded green tail and olive rather than blue flight feathers, and the female lacks the gray head, streaked chest, and reddish belly. Female also similar to female Handsome Sunbird, but has a dark green tail. Voice includes a high-pitched jumbled song and an upslurred, high-pitched "chuit!"

The metallic-winged sunbird was formally described in 1876 by the English ornithologist Richard Bowdler Sharpe based on specimens collected on the island of Basilan by members of an expedition to the Philippines led by the American ornithologist Joseph Beal Steere. Sharpe coined the binomial name Aethopyga pulcherrima,^[2][3] where the specific epithet is from Latin pulcherrimus meaning "very beautiful".^[4]

Three subspecies are recognised:^[5]

• A. p. pulcherrima Sharpe, 1876 – Eastern Visayas and Mindanao group (central, south Philippines, formerly called the Mindanao sunbird); irridiscent blue only on shoulder
• A. p. jefferyi (Ogilvie-Grant, 1894) – montane Luzon (north Philippines, formerly considered as a separate species, the Luzon sunbird); irridiscent blue encompasses the entire wing and rump
• A. p. decorosa (McGregor, 1907) – Bohol (central south Philippines, formerly considered as a separate species, the Bohol sunbird); irridiscent blue encompasses the entire wing and rump but much paler than the Luzon sunbird

Ecology and behavior

Seen alone or are part of mixed flocks. This species is often observed foranging on flowers but it is believed that this species also feeds on insects. A single nest recorded contained 3 eggs which were described as dull pink with gray mottling.^[6]

Habitat and conservation status

Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forests and tropical moist montane forests up to 2,000 meters above sea level although the altitudes differ per subspecies. The Bohol and Mindanao sunbirds were more often seen in lowlands while the Luzon sunbird is only recorded above 900 meters above sea level.

It is assessed as a Least-concern species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as it is fairly common in its range and tolerant of disturbed habitat.^[7]