Rosy Minivet
Pericrocotus roseus
Pale, rather washed-out-looking minivet. Male has a white throat, pink breast, and bright red “apostrophe” on the wing. Female replaces male’s red and pink with yellow, but is otherwise similar. Both have prominent dark lores. Usually moves in pairs, but will form flocks outside of the breeding season. Breeds in a wide range of lowland and foothill forests; favors hill and valley forests in the winter. Gives twittering trill in flight.
Identification
The male is distinguished from other minivets by having a deep pink/light red shade in wings and tail and the female having an olive/olive yellow rump as against bright yellow in other minivets. Both male and female are grey above.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Pericrocotus roseus
- Authority
- (Vieillot, 1818)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Campephagidae
- Genus
- Pericrocotus
Range and habitat
It is found in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand, and Vietnam. In India, it is found in the Himalayas from west to east to Arunachal Pradesh and hills of Nagaland and Manipur. In winter in peninsula.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest.
- Breeding range
- OR : Himalayas to s China, Myanmar and nw Vietnam
- Non-breeding range
- c India, Thailand, Laos and s Vietnam
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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