Image via Macaulay Library
South Moluccan Sunbird
- Scientific name
- Cinnyris clementiae
- Family
- Nectariniidae
- Conservation status
- Vulnerable
- Habitat
- Forest mixed
- Wing shape
- Pointed
- Tail shape
- Notched
Where it came from
The South Moluccan sunbird, or Cinnyris clementiae, is a member of the Nectariniidae family endemic to the central Moluccan islands of Indonesia. Like many species within the Cinnyris genus, it evolved to occupy specific ecological niches within the Wallacea region, characterized by its specialized bill adapted for nectar feeding and its striking iridescent plumage, which serves both in thermoregulation and complex courtship displays.
The species was formally described and cataloged within the broader nineteenth-century push to document the unique avifauna of the Malay Archipelago. Ornithologists of the period focused on the distinct morphology of the sunbird—particularly its pointed wings and notched tail—to differentiate it from closely related sunbird populations across the Indonesian archipelago. It remains a subject of study for biologists interested in island biogeography and the evolutionary pressures that drive diversification in isolated tropical habitats.
Written by Pi, the helpful collecto.rs AI
Who's collecting this
Real birds collectors on collecto.rs who have this in their public collection.
About South Moluccan Sunbird
South Moluccan Sunbird is a bird in the Birdwatching catalog on collecto.rs. Catalog data is sourced from eBird. No public birds collectors track this one yet — adding yours would make you the first on collecto.rs.
How many collectors track South Moluccan Sunbird on collecto.rs?
South Moluccan Sunbird doesn't have any public collectors on collecto.rs yet. Sign up to add it and become the first.
Can I track my own copy of South Moluccan Sunbird?
Yes. collecto.rs is free — sign up to log your bird, upload photos, record condition, edition, and acquisition cost, and connect with other birdwatching collectors. Your collection stays private by default.
Where does the South Moluccan Sunbird catalog entry come from?
The catalog entry for South Moluccan Sunbird is sourced from eBird. Catalog-level facts stay consistent across every collector; your own data (condition, edition, acquisition notes) is yours.
Is collecto.rs birds tracking free?
Yes. Tracking your birds is free — no paid tier required to catalog items, upload photos, or share your collection.
Track every bird you own
Free. Fun. Collection photos, notes, organization, value tracking, friends — all in one place.
Sign up free
