Scarlet-headed Flowerpecker
Dicaeum trochileum
Male’s bright red head, breast, and back makes him unmistakable. Female is brownish above and pale below, with a red rump; can be similar to female Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker, but note Scarlet-headed’s grayer tones overall, especially on the flanks (female Scarlet-backed has pale buff or faded yellowish flanks). A common sight in lowland and lower foothills, where it inhabits gardens, cultivated areas, forest edge, and open or degraded forests. Song is a quiet series of very high tinkling notes; most common call is a short buzzy “bzzt”.
Identification
The scarlet-headed flowerpecker body length can reach up to eight to nine centimeters after maturity.<p>The red to orange upper body of the males is the main characteristic that distinguishes them from the females. Their red plumage covers their head, their back, their rump and their throat. Their wings are black with blue pigmentation. Their legs are black, and their beak is grey. The tip of their tail is black.<p>The females have a light grey to brown head and back. Their orange to red rumps characterize the females' morphology. Similarly to the males, their legs are black, their beak is grey, and the tip of their tail is black. Their wings are lighter than the male's wings colour, and they are missing the blue coloration.<p>The morphology of the juveniles resembles more that of the females than that of the males. The small size and lighter body colours characterize the youngs. They have a light grey beak with pale brown wings and a pale grey to yellow belly.
Taxonomy
This species is from the family Dicaeidae and in the genus Dicaeum. This genus was first named by George Cuvier, a French anatomist, in 1817. The species' name Dicaeum trochileum was given by Anders Sparrman in 1789.
- Scientific name
- Dicaeum trochileum
- Authority
- (Sparrman, 1789)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Dicaeidae
- Genus
- Dicaeum
Range and habitat
The scarlet-headed flowerpecker is endemic to a few islands of the archipelago of Indonesia. It mainly inhabits the islands of Java and Bali. A few individuals have been reported on Lombok and Sumatra islands, and in Southeastern Borneo.<p>It mostly inhabits open woodlands, gardens and mangroves. This bird's presence has also been reported on the seacoast and in the lowlands of Sumatra Island. It is found between the sea level and up to a maximum of 600 meters in altitude.<p>Many tourists travel to the region of Taro on the island of Bali to observe this bird.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The scarlet-headed flowerpecker can be easily recognized by its call. It makes high and acute short notes. Its vocals are either a “zit-zit-zit” sound or “seeeeep…seeeeep”. Every pitch last from two to three and a half seconds.<p>The scarlet-headed flowerpecker feeds mostly on small berries, insects, nectar and pollen. It is often seen in milkweed and mistletoe grooves, foraging the plants' berries. The aggressivity of this small bird allows it to perch low in trees and its small size helps it to move through the dense branches of the mistletoes to find its berries. It will forage either alone or with a partner.<p>The nest of this species is about 70–80 × 30–35 mm made from grass and leaves. Milkweed fibers have also been found in their nests. Their eggs are white, sometimes glossed and they have a dark red dot at one end. This flowerpecker lays the eggs in a large hole dug in the middle of the nests.<p>Both males and females are found in the nest, taking care of their chick together.<p>There are individuals of scarlet-headed flowerpecker moulting all year round, but a higher number of individuals moult in July. The individuals calibrate their moulting with the abundance and quality of the food resources they can find.<p>The breeding season of this species changes depending on the island and the region each individual inhabits. In West Java, the breeding season extends from January to October whereas, in East and Central Java, it is generally from April to May.
Conservation
This species's conservation status is Least concern. The human presence and the noise disturbance affect this bird's activity during the day. This flowerpecker is more active in the morning when it is silent and deserted of human presence. However, those disturbances do not affect the population's reproduction and survival, making this species' population's number stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Painted Bunting
Passerina ciris
Incomparably beautiful songbird in which adult males are almost too colorful, with a jarring combination of rich blue head, bright red underparts, and lime green back. Females and immature males are plain green and unstreaked, not brown-toned like other buntings. Breeds in shrubby fields and forest edges, where males often sing from a high exposed perch. Found in a variety of weedy or thickety habitats in winter, often in small flocks that like to stay low and hidden. Sometimes visits feeders. Two disjunct populations look and sound very similar, but have different migration routes. Eastern birds, mainly breeding in Georgia and South Carolina, just migrate south to Florida and the Caribbean for the winter. Larger western population centered in Texas migrates to western Mexico and then filters south through Central America.
Gray-eyed Bulbul
Iole propinqua
Drab, undistinguished-looking bulbul. Predominantly gray-brown with a white throat and slight rufous tones on the wings and tail. Pale eye and unmarked head distinguish it from other plain brownish bulbuls within its range. Tends to be seen solitarily or in pairs but will occasionally join mixed flocks or forage in larger groups at fruiting trees. Unmusical; gives a loud, ringing nasal note, often repetitively.
Mrs. Gould's Sunbird
Aethopyga gouldiae
Jewel-like male is bright scarlet with a blue tail and yellow underparts. Female is duller, with olive upperparts, yellow underparts, and a grayish head. Also note her pale rump, most easily seen when hovering. Forages actively, often congregating in flowering trees. A species of hill and montane forests and forest edge, breeding as high as 4250 meters. Calls include high thin “tzeeee” and sharp “tzit.”
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.