Purple-throated sunbird facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Purple-throated sunbird |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Near Davao City, Philippines | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Leptocoma
|
| Species: |
sperata
|
| Synonyms | |
|
|
The purple-throated sunbird (Leptocoma sperata) is a small, colorful bird. It belongs to the Nectariniidae family, which are often called sunbirds. These birds are known for their bright feathers and long, thin beaks. They use their beaks to drink nectar from flowers.
You can find the purple-throated sunbird in its natural habitat. This includes warm, wet tropical forests in low-lying areas. They also live in mangrove forests, which are special forests that grow in salty water. These birds are found in places like Maratua and the Philippines.
Another bird, the Van Hasselt's sunbird, was once thought to be the same species. But now, scientists know they are different birds.
Contents
About the Purple-Throated Sunbird
The purple-throated sunbird is a beautiful bird. It gets its name from the bright purple feathers on its throat. These birds are quite small. They are very active and often fly quickly between flowers.
They play an important role in their environment. As they drink nectar, they help to pollinate plants. This means they carry pollen from one flower to another. This helps the plants make seeds and grow new plants.
Where Does This Bird Live?
The purple-throated sunbird lives in specific parts of the world. Its main home is in the Philippines. It also lives on the island of Maratua. These areas are warm all year round.
The birds prefer forests that are close to the ground. They also like mangrove forests. These are special forests that grow along coastlines. They have trees with roots that grow out of the water.
How Scientists Name Birds
Scientists have a special way to name all living things. This system helps everyone around the world know exactly which animal or plant they are talking about. It is called binomial nomenclature. This means each species gets a two-part Latin name.
In 1766, a famous Swedish scientist named Carl Linnaeus gave this bird its first scientific name. He called it Certhia sperata. The word sperata is Latin. It means "bride" or "betrothed."
Later, in 1850, another scientist named Jean Cabanis placed this bird in a new group. This group is called Leptocoma. So, the bird's full scientific name became Leptocoma sperata.
Different Kinds of Purple-Throated Sunbirds
Even within the same species, there can be slight differences. These are called subspecies. Scientists have found four main types of purple-throated sunbirds. They live in different parts of the Philippines.
- L. s. henkei: You can find this type in northern Luzon.
- L. s. sperata: This type lives in central and southern Luzon. It also lives on Polillo Island, Marinduque, and Catanduanes. These are all in the northern Philippines.
- L. s. trochilus: This type is found in the western, central, and southern Philippines. But it is not in western and southern Mindanao or the Sulu Archipelago.
- L. s. juliae: This type lives in western and southern Mindanao. It also lives in the Sulu Archipelago.
