Van Hasselt's Sunbird
Leptocoma brasiliana
紫喉蓝肩花蜜鸟
Introduction
A species of bird in the family Nectariniidae. It is found in Northeast India, Bangladesh and Southeast Asia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical mangrove forests. The species was formerly considered conspecific with the purple-throated sunbird (Leptocoma sperata). In 1939, 28 birds were released on Oahu, Hawaii in an attempt to establish a population; none survived.
Distribution & Habitat
The species occurs across Northeast India, Bangladesh, and Southeast Asia, including the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, and various surrounding islands. Five subspecies are recognized: L. b. brasiliana occurs from northeast India and east Bangladesh to the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, islands west of Sumatra (except Simeulue), west Java and Borneo; L. b. emmae in south Indochina; L. b. mecynorhyncha on Simeulue; L. b. eumecis on the Anambas Islands; and L. b. axantha on the Natuna Islands.
Behavior & Ecology
No detailed behavioral information provided in the source.
Conservation
No conservation assessment or population data provided in the source.
Culture
No cultural significance or folklore information provided in the source.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Nectariniidae
- Genus
- Leptocoma
- eBird Code
- vahsun1
Subspecies (5)
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Leptocoma brasiliana axantha
North Natuna Islands (South China Sea)
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Leptocoma brasiliana brasiliana
northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh to the Malayan Peninsula, Sumatra (and islands off western coast except Simeulue), western Java, and Borneo
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Leptocoma brasiliana emmae
Cambodia to southern Laos and southern Vietnam
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Leptocoma brasiliana eumecis
Anambas Islands (South China Sea)
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Leptocoma brasiliana mecynorhyncha
Simeulue (west of Sumatra)
Data Sources
Species description from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Taxonomy data from AviList 2025.