The pale spiderhunter (Arachnothera dilutior) is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae. It is found in Palawan. It was originally considered a subspecies of the little spiderhunter. They are predominantly grayish in color, with olive-green wings, and a pale yellow belly.[2]
| Pale spiderhunter | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Nectariniidae |
| Genus: | Arachnothera |
| Species: | A. dilutior
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| Binomial name | |
| Arachnothera dilutior Sharpe, 1876
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Description and taxonomy
editEbird describes it as "A medium-sized bird of lowland forest canopy and edge on Palawan and neighboring islands. Overall bright green, paler below, with a yellow throat and upper chest and a blue eye-ring, shoulder, edge to the wing, and short line down from the base of the bill. Note the black bill, wingtips, and legs. No other green birds of this size occur in its range. Voice includes a varied whistled song."[3]
It was formerly conspecific with the Little spiderhunter and Orange-tufted spiderhunter but each was designated their own species. Differs from others by its deeper and darker bill, longer tail, dark lores and its striking eyering, gray breast and throat and yellower wing edges. This species is monotypic,
Not much is known about its diet but it is presumed to be the typical spiderhunter diet of nectar and insects.[4]
Habitat and conservation status
editIts habitat is primary lowland forest and second growth but it does occasionally visit secondary growth and banana plantations. Found up to 1,000 meters above sea level.
It is assessed as least-concern species under the IUCN as it seems to be tolerant of degraded habitat and is still common accross its range. However, Palawan's forests are under threat due to illegal logging, deforestation, land conversion and mining. The whole of Palawan was designated as a Biosphere Reserve; however, protection and enforcement of laws has been difficult and these threats still continue. It occurs in just one protected area in the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm.[5]
References
edit- ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Arachnothera dilutior". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T103778680A104295930. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T103778680A104295930.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
- ^ "Pale Spiderhunter - eBird". ebird.org.
- ^ "Pale Spiderhunter - eBird". ebird.org. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
- ^ del Hoyo, Josep; Collar, Nigel; Kirwan, Guy M. (2020). "Pale Spiderhunter (Arachnothera dilutior), version 1.0". Birds of the World. doi:10.2173/bow.palspi2.01species_shared.bow.project_name. ISSN 2771-3105.
- ^ IUCN (2016-10-01). Arachnothera dilutior: BirdLife International: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T103778680A104295930 (Report). International Union for Conservation of Nature. doi:10.2305/iucn.uk.2016-3.rlts.t103778680a104295930.en.
- Moyle, R.G., S.S. Taylor, C.H. Oliveros, H.C. Lim, C.L. Haines, M.A. Rahman, and F.H. Sheldon. 2011. Diversification of an endemic Southeast Asian genus: phylogenetic relationships of the spiderhunters (Nectariniidae: Arachnothera). Auk 128: 777–788.