Ruby-cheeked Sunbird

SCI Name:  Chalcoparia singalensis
Protonym:  Motacilla singalensis Syst.Nat. 1 pt2 p.964
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Nectariniidae / Chalcoparia
Taxonomy Code:  rucsun2
Type Locality:  Ceylon [error] ; Malacca designed by Oberholser, 1912, Smiths. Misc. Coll., 60 (7), p. 21.
Author:  Gmelin, JF
Publish Year:  1789
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

CHALCOPARIA
(Nectariniidae; Ϯ Ruby-cheeked Sunbird C. singalensis) Gr. χαλκοπαρῃος khalkoparēios  with cheeks of bronze  < χαλκος khalkos  bronze; παρεια pareia  cheek.; "Subfam. PTILOTURINÆ. *)  Schweif-Honigsauger.   ...   *) Charakteristisch für diese Unterabtheilung ist der mehr oder weniger verlängerte, stets stufige Schwanz.  Hierher gehören ferner die Gattungen:  Chalcoparia nov. gen.  Von χαλκοπαρειος, mit ehernen Wangen.  Schnabel ziemlich kurz und gerade, ähnlich dem von Anthothreptes, der Schwanz hingegen stufig.   Typus: Ch. cingalensis. — Sylvia cingalensis Lath; Nectarinia phaenicotis Temm." (Cabanis 1853); "Chalcoparia Cabanis in Cabanis and Heine, 1853, Museum Heineanum, I, p. 103.  Type, by original designation and monotypy, Sylvia cingalensis Lath. = Motacilla singalensis Gmelin, 1788." (JAJ 2020)  (see  Chalcostetha).
Var. Chalcopareia, Chalcophora.

singalensis
Singhala or Cingala, former names for Ceylon / Sri Lanka.
● Erroneous TL. Ceylon (= Malacca, Malaya); ex “Green Warbler” of Brown 1776, “Cingalese Warbler” of Latham 1783, and “Yellow-bellied Creeper” of Latham 1787 (Chalcoparia).

SUBSPECIES

Ruby-cheeked Sunbird (assamensis)
SCI Name: Chalcoparia singalensis assamensis
assamense / assamensis / assami / assamica / assamicus
Assam, India (from Mughal name Asham for the region).

Ruby-cheeked Sunbird (internota)
SCI Name: Chalcoparia singalensis internota
internota / internotus
L. internotus distinguished, discerned < internoscere to distinguish between.

Ruby-cheeked Sunbird (koratensis)
SCI Name: Chalcoparia singalensis koratensis
koratensis
Korat (= Nakorn Ratchasima), Thailand.

Ruby-cheeked Sunbird (interposita)
SCI Name: Chalcoparia singalensis interposita
interposita / interpositus
L. interpositus  interposed, introduced  < interponere  to interpose.
● "Similar to O. japonicus japonicus, but differs in having the wing and bill longer and stouter, and the coloration rather darker. It also differs from O. japonicus elegans in having the upper parts paler and less rufous in tone, and in having the wing and culmen perceptibly shorter" (Kuroda 1923) (subsp. Otus elegans).

Ruby-cheeked Sunbird (singalensis)
SCI Name: Chalcoparia singalensis singalensis
singalensis
Singhala or Cingala, former names for Ceylon / Sri Lanka.
● Erroneous TL. Ceylon (= Malacca, Malaya); ex “Green Warbler” of Brown 1776, “Cingalese Warbler” of Latham 1783, and “Yellow-bellied Creeper” of Latham 1787 (Chalcoparia).

Ruby-cheeked Sunbird (panopsia)
SCI Name: Chalcoparia singalensis panopsia
panopsia / panopsius
Gr. πανοψιος panopsios  all-seeing, in the sight of all  < πας pas, παν pan  all; οψις opsis  vision, appearance.

Ruby-cheeked Sunbird (sumatrana)
SCI Name: Chalcoparia singalensis sumatrana
sumatrae / sumatrana / sumatranum / sumatranus / sumatrensis
Sumatra, Dutch East Indies / Indonesia  < Sanskrit Samudra  sea (a name subsequently mangled by European travellers).
● ex “Malacca Partridge” of Latham 1823 (syn. Caloperdix oculeus).
● Perhaps the “Polo Condor Gull” of Latham 1801 (Sterna).
● Erroneous TL. Sumatra (= Celebes / Sulawesi) (Tanygnathus).

Ruby-cheeked Sunbird (pallida)
SCI Name: Chalcoparia singalensis pallida
pallida
L. pallidus  pallid, pale, wan, sallow  < pallere  to be pale.

Ruby-cheeked Sunbird (borneana)
SCI Name: Chalcoparia singalensis borneana
bornea / borneana / borneanum / borneanus / borneense / borneensis / bornensis / borneoensis / borneonense / borneonensis / borneus
Borneo  < Malay Brunei  the Barunai or Brunei Sultanate, wealthy, powerful and more extensive in the 15th century  < Sanskrit Váruna  water, rain.
● Erroneous TL. Borneo (= Amboina); "44. PSITTACUS.  ...  borneus.  6. P. macrourus ruber, remigibus rectricibusque apice viridibus, alis macula cærulea.  Psittacus coccineus, cauda longiore. Edw. av. 173. t. 173.  Habitat in India: Borneo." (Linnaeus 1758) (Eos). This name, albeit erroneous, is the fourth toponym in avian nomenclature.

Ruby-cheeked Sunbird (bantenensis)
SCI Name: Chalcoparia singalensis bantenensis
bantanensis / bantenensis
Banten region (= Banten Province), western Java, Indonesia.

Ruby-cheeked Sunbird (phoenicotis)
SCI Name: Chalcoparia singalensis phoenicotis
phoenicotis
Gr. φοινιξ phoinix, φοινικος phoinikos  crimson, red; -ωτις -ōtis  -eared  < ους ous, ωτος ōtos  ear.