Lovely sunbird

Lovely sunbird
in Palawan
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Nectariniidae
Genus:	Aethopyga
Species:	A. shelleyi
Binomial name
Aethopyga shelleyi Sharpe, 1876

The lovely sunbird (Aethopyga shelleyi) is a bird species in the family Nectariniidae. It is endemic to the Philippines. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and tropical moist montane forests.

Description and taxonomy

Ebird describes it as "A tiny bird of wooded areas from the lowlands to the mountains of Palawan and neighboring islands. Has a fairly long, curved bill, a whitish belly, and olive wings. Male has a pointed green tail, a bright red back, sides, and head, a purple crown and moustache stripe, and a yellow chest with fine red streaking. Male is unmistakable. The drab female is similar to other female sunbirds, but is the only one with a combination of very small size, pale underparts, and olive wings. Voice is a repeated up-and-down “chip-chap! chip-chap! chip-chap!”

It was formerly conspecific with the Handsome sunbird but is differentiated by the red streaking on its breast versus the latter's plain yellow breast. This species is monotypic.

Ecology and behavior

Not much is known about its diet but it is pressumed to have the typical flowerpecker diet of small fruits, insects, nectar especially from mistletoes. Typically seen singly, pairs, small groups and joins mixed species flocks. Breeding has been recorded on February but otherwise breeding is unrecorded.

Habitat and conservation status

Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forest, montane forest , second growth and plantations up to 2,000 meters above sea level.

The IUCN has classified the species as being of Least Concern as it has a large range and it is common throughout with the population believed to be stable as it is able to tolerate even degraded habitat. However, deforestation in Palawan continues due to slash and burn farming, mining, illegal logging and land conversion.

The whole of Palawan was designated as a Biosphere Reserve; however, protection and enforcement of laws has been difficult and these threats still continue. It occurs in just one protected area in Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park.