THE BIRDS OF SINGAPORE ISLAND 
]n one respect the typical sunbirds are the easiest group 
with which we have to deal but in other respects they are far 
the most difficuk. The males of alt the species are quite un- 
mistakable and a very brief description should enable the 
reader to recognise them in the field. The females on tlie 
other hand are as difficult to recognise as the males are easy 
and at a short distance they all look very much alike. So con- 
viuced are we of the futility of attempting to give hints for 
their recognition m the field that we have paid scant attention 
to the matter. In their general appearance sunbirds are rather 
characteristic and reference to our plate of one of the common 
species will be of more help to the reader than many written 
words. Note the small size and the sickle shaped bill: the 
birds on the plate are drawn about rather more than two-thirds 
of the natural size and represent the largest of the local com- 
mon species. 
Three species are very common in Singapore, two others 
are less common but by no means rare. 
The field points of the males are; — ^ 
Chalcostetha calcosiciha. — Appears all black at the distance of 
a few yards except for two bright 
yellow tufts on the s'des best 
seen when the wings are oi>en. 
Usually seen in mangrove. 
Atttkreptes nmlaccensis. — Metallic purple and green above but 
dark at a short distance. Throat 
brown, remainder of underparts 
yellow\ U usually seen in coco- 
nut land but also in gardens and 
woodlands. 
Leptoconm ornata. --Vp^r parts greenish, lower parts bright 
yellow. Throat very dark metal- 
lic bloc (black at a few yards). 
The common sunbird of Singa- 
pore gardens. 
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