Sunbirds (Nectariniidae)

Ruby-cheeked Sunbird (Chalcoparia singalensis) - HBW 13, p. 245

French: Souimanga à joues rubis German: Rubinwangen-Nektarvogel Spanish: Suimanga Carirrubí
Other common names: Rubycheek

Taxonomy: Motacilla singalensis J. F. Gmelin, 1789, Ceylon; error = Malacca, Peninsular Malaysia.
Genus generally merged with Anthreptes in the past, but distinctive tongue morphology unique within family; possibly warrants placement in separate family or subfamily. Geographical variation not well marked; in addition, described race rubinigentis (from Cachar, in NE India) considered inseparable from assamensis, and stellae (from Trat Province, in S Thailand) indistinguishable from koratensis. Eleven subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution:

assamensis Kloss, 1930 - C Nepal (from Chitwan) E to NE India (S from Assam), Bangladesh, N Myanmar, N Thailand and S China (W & S Yunnan).
internota (Deignan, 1955) - S Myanmar and S Thailand (S to Isthmus of Kra).
interposita Robinson & Kloss, 1921 - peninsular Thailand S of Isthmus of Kra.

See all 11 subspecies

assamensis Kloss, 1930 - C Nepal (from Chitwan) E to NE India (S from Assam), Bangladesh, N Myanmar, N Thailand and S China (W & S Yunnan).
internota (Deignan, 1955) - S Myanmar and S Thailand (S to Isthmus of Kra).
interposita Robinson & Kloss, 1921 - peninsular Thailand S of Isthmus of Kra.
koratensis Kloss, 1918 - E Thailand and Indochina.
singalensis (J. F. Gmelin, 1789) - Peninsular Malaysia S from N Perak.
sumatrana Kloss, 1921 - mainland Sumatra and Belitung.
panopsia Oberholser, 1912 - islands off W coast of Sumatra.
pallida Chasen, 1935 - N Natuna Is.
borneana Kloss, 1921 - Borneo.
bantenensis (Hoogerwerf, 1967) - W Java.
phoenicotis (Temminck, 1822) - C & E Java.