Thornbills (Acanthizidae)

Golden-bellied Gerygone (Gerygone sulphurea) - HBW 12, p. 599

French: Gérygone soufrée German: Goldbrustgerygone Spanish: Gerigón Sulfúreo
Other common names: Flyeater, Golden-bellied/Yellow-breasted Flyeater, Golden-bellied Fairy-warbler, Yellow-breasted (Gerygone) Warbler, Yellow-breasted Wren-warbler

Taxonomy: Gerygone sulphurea Wallace, 1864, Solor Island, Lesser Sunda Islands.
Possibly related to G. levigaster or G. inornata. Races exhibit marked vocal differences as well as some plumage distinctions, suggesting that more than one species may be involved, Philippine birds seeming fairly distinct; further research, including molecular-genetic analyses, required. Five subspecies currently recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution:

  • sulphurea Wallace, 1864 - Malay Peninsula, Cochinchina and Greater and Lesser Sundas.
  • muscicapa Oberholser, 1912 - Enggano I (off S Sumatra).
  • simplex Cabanis, 1872 - N, W & C Philippines (Luzon, Lubang, Verde, Mindoro, Marinduque, Catanduanes, Tablas, Negros, Cebu, Olango, Bohol, Siquijor, Samar, Palawan)

     See all 5 subspecies
  • sulphurea Wallace, 1864 - Malay Peninsula, Cochinchina and Greater and Lesser Sundas.
  • muscicapa Oberholser, 1912 - Enggano I (off S Sumatra).
  • simplex Cabanis, 1872 - N, W & C Philippines (Luzon, Lubang, Verde, Mindoro, Marinduque, Catanduanes, Tablas, Negros, Cebu, Olango, Bohol, Siquijor, Samar, Palawan)
  • rhizophorae Mearns, 1905 - S Philippines (Mindanao, Basilan, and Sulu Archipelago).
  • flaveola Cabanis, 1873 - Sulawesi, Salayar and Banggai Is (Peleng, Banggai).
  • Least Concern