Little spiderhunter

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Little spiderhunter
SpiderhunterSabah.jpg
A. l. longirostra (Sabah, Borneo)
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Nectariniidae
Genus: Arachnothera
Species:
A. longirostra
Binomial name
Arachnothera longirostra
(Latham, 1790)

The little spiderhunter (Arachnothera longirostra) is a species of long-billed nectar-feeding bird in the family Nectariniidae found in the moist forests of South and Southeast Asia. Unlike typical sunbirds, males and females are very similar in plumage. They are usually seen in ones or twos and frequently make a tzeck call. They are most often found near flowering plants where they obtain nectar.

Contents

Description

The distinctive long beak set it apart from other sunbirds. The sexes are similar, except that the female has a paler base on the lower mandible. Male has all black beak. [2] They are found near their favourite nectar bearing trees, often species of wild Musaceae or flowers in gardens. They have a buzzy zick-zick call that is made regularly when disturbed or when foraging. Additionally, the song is series of rapid chipping notes and these can go on for long periods. [2]

Taxonomy

The genus name Arachnothera means "spider hunter" and the species epithet refers to the long beak. About thirteen geographic races are recognized. The nominate race longirostra (Latham, 1790) is found in southwestern India, central and northeastern India, foothills of the Himalayas and into Thailand and Yunnan. Race sordida La Touche, 1921 is found in southern China and northeastern Thailand. Race pallida Delacour, 1932 is found in eastern Thailand and C & S Indochina. Two species from the Philippines, the orange-tufted and the pale spiderhunter were formerly considered subspecies. Several other island forms are noted: [3]

Distribution and habitat

Little Spiderhunter foraging on Musa sp. Spiderhunter sipping honey.jpg
Little Spiderhunter foraging on Musa sp.

The species is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. Within India, there are disjunct populations in the Eastern Ghats from Lamasinghi, [5] Visakhapatnam and parts of Orissa [6] ) and the Western Ghats apart from the main distribution in north-east India that extends into Southeast Asia. [7] A record from the Nicobar Islands is considered doubtful. [2]

Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical mangrove forests, and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is usually found below the canopy. They are also found in gardens, attracted especially by flowers that yield nectar. [8]

Behaviour and ecology

Song of A. l. longirostra, from Kerala, India

They have been noted as good pollinators of wild banana species [9] and several species of the ginger family [10] and often visit Loranthus sp. (= Dendrophthoe sp.), [11] Bombax malabaricum and Erythrina indica for nectar. [12] [13] They are often seen in plantations in forest areas. [14] [15] Although they are more often seen in secondary forests or in clearings and appear to be tolerant of human activities, they have become extinct in some forest fragments. In Singapore they have gone locally extinct within the botanical garden. [16]

Little Spiderhunter eggs ] Egg spiderhunter.jpg
Little Spiderhunter eggs ]

The breeding season in northeastern India is March to September but mainly May to August. In southern India it breeds from December to August. Two eggs are the usual clutch. [7] The nest is a compact cup attached under a leaf of banana or similar broad leaved plant. The nest is suspended from the underside of the leaf using 150 or so "pop-rivets" of cobwebs and vegetable fibre, a unique method of using spider silk for animal architecture. [18]

It is suspected that Hodgson's hawk-cuckoo and violet cuckoo are brood parasites on this species in India. [19]

Calls

A species of haemosporidian, Leucocytozoon, has been noted in specimens from Malaysia. [20]

In culture

In Sarawak, the Kayan, Kenyah and Punan people consider it a bird of good omen and when they are out collecting camphor, the men would wait until they heard the sit call of one of these spiderhunters. [21]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sunbird</span> Family of birds

Sunbirds and spiderhunters make up the family Nectariniidae of passerine birds. They are small, slender passerines from the Old World, usually with downward-curved bills. Many are brightly coloured, often with iridescent feathers, particularly in the males. Many species also have especially long tail feathers. Their range extends through most of Africa to the Middle East, South Asia, South-east Asia and southern China, to Indonesia, New Guinea and northern Australia. Species diversity is highest in equatorial regions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spiderhunter</span> Genus of birds

The spiderhunters are birds of the genus Arachnothera, part of the sunbird family Nectariniidae. The genus contains thirteen species found in the forests of south and southeastern Asia. They are large representatives of the sunbird family, with drab plumage and long strongly curved bills. They feed on both nectar and a range of small arthropods.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Purple sunbird</span> Species of bird

The purple sunbird is a small bird in the sunbird family found mainly in South and Southeast Asia but extending west into parts of the Arabian peninsula. Like other sunbirds they feed mainly on nectar, although they will also take insects, especially when feeding young. They have a fast and direct flight and can take nectar by hovering like a hummingbird but often perch at the base of flowers. The males can appear all black in harsh sunlight but the purple iridescence is visible on closer observation or under good light conditions. Females are olive above and yellowish below.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Purple-rumped sunbird</span> Species of bird

The purple-rumped sunbird is a sunbird endemic to the Indian Subcontinent. Like other sunbirds, they are small in size, feeding mainly on nectar but sometimes take insects, particularly when feeding young. They can hover for short durations but usually perch to lap nectar from flowers. They build a hanging pouch nest made up of cobwebs, lichens and plant material. Males are contrastingly coloured but females are olive above and yellow to buff below. Males are easily distinguished from the purple sunbird by the light coloured underside while females can be told apart from males by their whitish throats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crimson-backed sunbird</span> Species of bird

The crimson-backed sunbird or small sunbird is a sunbird endemic to the Western Ghats of India. Like other sunbirds, they feed mainly on nectar although they take insects, especially to feed their young. They are tiny birds that are resident and are found in forests but are particularly attracted to gardens at the edge of the forest where people grow suitable flower-bearing plants. They usually perch while taking nectar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bar-winged flycatcher-shrike</span> Species of bird

The bar-winged flycatcher-shrike is a small passerine bird usually placed in the Vangidae. It is found in the forests of tropical southern Asia from the Himalayas and hills of southern India to Indonesia. Mainly insectivorous it is found hunting in the mid-canopy of forests, often joining mixed-species foraging flocks. They perch upright and have a distinctive pattern of black and white, males being more shiny black than the females. In some populations the colour of the back is brownish while others have a dark wash on the underside.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pale-billed flowerpecker</span> Species of bird

The pale-billed flowerpecker or Tickell's flowerpecker is a tiny bird that feeds on nectar and berries, found in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and western Myanmar. The bird is common especially in urban gardens with berry bearing trees. They have a rapid chipping call and the pinkish curved beak separates it from other species in the region.

<i>Loranthus</i> Genus of mistletoes

Loranthus is a genus of parasitic plants that grow on the branches of woody trees. It belongs to the family Loranthaceae, the showy mistletoe family. In most earlier systematic treatments it contains all mistletoe species with bisexual flowers, though some species have reversed to unisexual flowers. Other treatments restrict the genus to a few species. The systematic situation of Loranthus is not entirely clear.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asian emerald cuckoo</span> Species of bird

The Asian emerald cuckoo is a species of cuckoo in the family Cuculidae. It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Violet cuckoo</span> Species of bird

The violet cuckoo is a species of cuckoo in the family Cuculidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grey-breasted spiderhunter</span> Species of bird

The grey-breasted spiderhunter is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae. It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest. It is sometimes considered conspecific with the streaky-breasted spiderhunter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellow-eared spiderhunter</span> Species of bird

The yellow-eared spiderhunter is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae. It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical mangrove forests, and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thick-billed spiderhunter</span> Species of bird

The thick-billed spiderhunter is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae. It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bornean spiderhunter</span> Species of bird

The Bornean spiderhunter is a doubtful species of bird in the family Nectariniidae. The scientific name commemorates British colonial administrator and zoological collector Alfred Hart Everett.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spectacled spiderhunter</span> Species of bird

The spectacled spiderhunter is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae. It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest. This is both the largest spiderhunter and the largest representative of the entire sunbird family. The total length of this species is around 22 cm (8.7 in) and body mass is around 38.4 to 49 g.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whitehead's spiderhunter</span> Species of bird endemic to Borneo

Whitehead's spiderhunter is a species of spiderhunter in the sunbird and spiderhunter family Nectariniidae. It is endemic to Borneo, where it is found in the mountain ranges in the north-central part of the island. It inhabits hill dipterocarp forest, primary and secondary montane forest, and forest edge at elevations of 930–3,000 m (3,050–9,840 ft). A large and distinctive spiderhunter, the species is mostly brown with profuse whitish streaking all over the body and bright yellow vents and uppertail coverts. Both sexes are similar in appearance, but males are larger, with a length of 16.5–18 cm (6.5–7.1 in) compared to a length of 15.5–16.5 cm (6.1–6.5 in) for females. The juvenile plumage is unknown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Streaked spiderhunter</span> Species of bird

The streaked spiderhunter is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Long-billed spiderhunter</span> Species of bird

The long-billed spiderhunter is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae. It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Purple-naped sunbird</span> Species of bird

The purple-naped sunbird is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae. It is the only species in the genus Kurochkinegramma. It is found in Southeast Asia from Myanmar to Sumatra and Borneo. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Copper-throated sunbird</span> Species of bird

The copper-throated sunbird is a small passerine within the Nectariniidae family. They sustain themselves by consuming nectar as well as small invertebrates. As a member of the Nectariniidae family, they possess downward curved beaks and have pectoral tufts of yellow feathers. They are found in south-eastern Asia, predominantly in coastal regions.

References

  1. ↑ BirdLife International (2016). "Arachnothera longirostra". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T103778625A94567188. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T103778625A94567188.en . Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Rasmussen PC & JC Anderton (2005). Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide. Volume 2. Smithsonian Institution & Lynx Edicions. p. 550.
  3. ↑ Rahman, MA; DFA Gawin; C Moritz (2010). "Patterns of genetic variation in the little spiderhunter (Arachnothera longirostra) in Southeast Asia" (PDF). The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. 58 (2): 381–390. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-08-08.
  4. ↑ Hartert E (1901). "Some notes on Java birds". Novitates Zoologicae. 8: 49–53.
  5. ↑ Raju, KSR Krishna; Selvin, Justus P (1971). "Little Spiderhunter, Arachnothera longirostris (Latham) in the Eastern Ghats". J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 68 (2): 454–455.
  6. ↑ Majumdar,N (1979). "New records of birds from Orissa". J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 76 (1): 161–162.
  7. 1 2 Ali, S & SD Ripley (1999). Handbook of the birds of India and Pakistan. Volume 10 (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. pp. 55–56.
  8. ↑ Beehler,B; Raju, KSRK; Ali,Shahid (1987). "Avian use of man-disturbed forest in the Eastern Ghats, India". Ibis. 129 (2): 197–211. doi: 10.1111/j.1474-919X.1987.tb03201.x .
  9. ↑ Liu Ai-Zhong; Li De-Zhu; Hong Wang; Kress W. John (2002). "Ornithophilous and chiropterophilous pollination in Musa itinerans (musaceae), a pioneer species in tropical rain forests of Yunnan, Southwestern China". Biotropica. 34 (2): 254–260. doi:10.1646/0006-3606(2002)034[0254:oacpim]2.0.co;2.
  10. ↑ Sakai, Shoko; Kato, Makoto; Inoue, Tamiji (1999). "Three pollination guilds and variation in floral characteristics of Bornean gingers (Zingiberaceae and Costaceae)". Am. J. Bot. 86 (5): 646–658. doi:10.2307/2656573. JSTOR   2656573. PMID   10330067.
  11. ↑ Devasahayam S, Rema J (1993). "Flower birds of Kozhikode District, Kerala". Newsletter for Birdwatchers. 33 (6): 103–105.
  12. ↑ Devasahayam S, Rema J (1993). "Birds visiting flowers of Indian silk cotton tree (Bombax malabaricum) at Calicut, Kerala". In Verghese A, Sridhar S, Chakravarthy AK (eds.). Bird Conservation, Strategies for the Nineties and Beyond. Ornithological Society of India, Bangalore. pp. 184–185.
  13. ↑ Devasahayam S, Rema J (2003). "Bird visitors to flowers of Indian coral tree (Erythrina indica Lam.) at Kozhikode District, Kerala". Newsletter for Birdwatchers. 43 (5): 72–73.
  14. ↑ Daniels, R J R; Malati Hegde & Madhav Gadgil (1990). "Birds of man-made ecosystems: the plantations". Proceedings: Animal Sciences. 99 (1): 79–89. doi:10.1007/BF03186376. S2CID   129118660.
  15. ↑ Ranganathan, J.; R. J. Ranjit Daniels; M. D. Subash Chandran; Paul R. Ehrlich & Gretchen C. Daily (2008). "Sustaining biodiversity in ancient tropical countryside". Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 105 (46): 17852–17854. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0808874105 . PMC   2577706 . PMID   18981411.
  16. ↑ Navjot S. Sodhi; Tien Ming Lee; Lian Pin Koh & Robert R. Dunn (2005). "A century of avifaunal turnover in a small tropical rainforest fragment" (PDF). Animal Conservation. 8 (2): 217–222. doi:10.1017/S1367943005001927. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-09-05.
  17. ↑ Baker, ECS (1901). "On Indian birds' eggs and their variations". Ibis. 8 (1): 411–423. doi:10.1111/j.1474-919X.1901.tb00474.x.
  18. ↑ Hansell, Michael Henry (2007). Built by animals: the natural history of animal architecture . Oxford University Press. pp.  19–21. ISBN   978-0-19-920556-1 . Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  19. ↑ Robert B. Payne; Michael D. Sorenson; Karen Klitz (2005). The Cuckoos : Cuculidae . Oxford University Press. p.  390. ISBN   0198502133.
  20. ↑ Paperna, Ilan (2008). "Haemosporozoan parasites found in birds in Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Sarawak and Java" (PDF). The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. 56 (2): 211–243. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-06-06.
  21. ↑ Haddon, AC (1901). Head-hunters: Black, white and brown. Methuen and Co., London. pp. 390–391.

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