Apo sunbird facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Apo sunbird |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Nectariniidae |
| Genus: | Aethopyga |
| Species: |
A. boltoni
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| Binomial name | |
| Aethopyga boltoni Mearns, 1905
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The Apo sunbird (Aethopyga boltoni) is a small, colorful bird that belongs to the sunbird family, Nectariniidae. It lives only on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. This means it is endemic to that island.
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What the Apo Sunbird Looks Like
The Apo sunbird has some differences between males and females. Both have a long, curved beak, which helps them drink nectar. They also have olive-colored backs and wings, tails with white tips, and yellow bellies.
Telling Males and Females Apart
You can tell the difference by looking at their throats.
- The male has a thin, light yellow stripe from its beak to its chest. It also has a dark gray outline around this stripe. Plus, there's a small red patch in front of its shoulder.
- The female sunbird has a plain pale gray throat.
Where the Apo Sunbird Lives
The Apo sunbird is found only on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. It prefers to live in mountainous areas.
Mountain Homes
You can find these birds in the western and central parts of Mindanao. They live on specific mountains like Mount Apo, Mount Kitanglad, and Mount Malindang. Scientists believe there are about 25,000 adult Apo sunbirds living in these mountain regions.
Apo Sunbird Sounds
The Apo sunbird has a unique song! It can sing a very fast, rising, and high-pitched trill with about 15 notes. Sometimes, it sings a different song. This one is also fast and even-pitched, but it slows down towards the end. It can also make a continuous "clip-clip-clip" or "sip-sip-sip" sound.
What the Apo Sunbird Eats
While we don't know everything about their diet, we can guess based on other sunbird species. Apo sunbirds likely eat mostly nectar from flowers. They also eat insects and spiders, especially when they are feeding their young. Apo sunbirds can be seen foraging alone, in pairs, or sometimes with other bird species.
How the Apo Sunbird Reproduces
Apo sunbirds have been seen breeding from January to July. On average, a new generation of sunbirds appears every 2.4 years. Only two nests have ever been found. One was found in 1904, and another in 1995. The second nest was high up, at over 2,400 meters (about 7,874 feet). A female bird ready to lay eggs was also found there in March. The nests were hanging high in the air, about 24 meters (around 79 feet) off the ground. They were about 8 cm by 16 cm in size, with a small side entrance of 3 cm. The nests were built using moss, spider eggs, and insect cases.
About the Apo Sunbird's Name
The Apo sunbird was officially described in 1905. This was done by an American bird expert named Edgar Alexander Mearns. He studied specimens collected from Mount Apo on the island of Mindanao, Philippines. He gave it the scientific name Aethopyga boltoni.
Types of Apo Sunbirds
There are three recognized types, or subspecies, of the Apo sunbird:
- A. b. malindangensis: Found in west Mindanao.
- A. b. boltoni: Found in east-central and east Mindanao.
- A. b. tibolii: Found in south Mindanao.
 | Ernest Everett Just |
 | Mary Jackson |
 | Emmett Chappelle |
 | Marie Maynard Daly |
