Fire-breasted Flowerpecker

Dicaeum ignipectus

Tiny songbird of mountain and hill forests; ranges from the Himalayas south to the Malay Peninsula on the Asian mainland, with an isolated population in Taiwan’s highlands. Adult male is dark blue above and pale creamy white below, with a black stripe leading down the belly from a brilliantly red patch like a bloodstain on the breast. Female is much plainer, brownish-olive above and off-white below; lacks the bright white throat of Plain and female Scarlet-backed Flowerpeckers. Often forages at flowers blooming in the canopy. Gives a high, thin, up-and-down “tsee’ip, tsee’ip, tsee’ip” and a rising series of ticks (often ending with more metallic notes); calls include dry tick notes and high, thin “tseet”s.

识别特征

The fire-breasted flowerpecker is a small flowerpecker with a small and dark bill. The male has glossy blue-black upperparts. The underside is buffy but a bright red breast patch. Starting below it and along the middle is a short black stripe going down till the belly. The female is dark olive above and buff below. The sides are olive and the bill has a pale base.<p>Weighing just 7–9 g (0.25–0.32 oz) and measuring under 7 cm (2.8 in) long, it is one of the smallest flowerpeckers. They are usually found at the tops of the trees especially on mistletoes. They have a shrill call given regularly and has been likened to snipping scissors and a staccato tsit.<p>The species was first described by Edward Blyth in 1843 based on a specimen obtained from Nepal by B H Hodgson. The name was based on Hodgson's manuscripts but was published by Blyth. The type specimen claimed to have been deposited at the British Museum is said to be lost, but may exist in the collection of the Asiatic Society museum in Calcutta.<p>It has been said to be "the smallest bird of India" or "perhaps the smallest":<p>... the Fire-breasted Myzanthe (Myzanthe ignipectus), a bird which is remarkable as being the smallest bird of India. So very small is this beautiful little bird, that an adult specimen is hardly two and a half inches in total length, and weighs only three and a half drachms. In its habits it is very like the Dicaeum, frequenting the tops of trees, and keeping itself well out of sight...

分类信息

学名
Dicaeum ignipectus
命名信息
(Blyth, 1843)
Passeriformes
Dicaeidae
Dicaeum

分布与栖息地

It is found widely distributed along the sub-Himalayan region in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and extends into Southeast Asia into Indonesia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and the Philippines. Its natural habitats are temperate forest, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest.<p>Several populations have been named as subspecies. The nominate ignipectus found along the Himalayas into Southeast Asia on the mainland. The remaining are insular populations and include formosum of Taiwan, luzoniense of Luzon, bonga of Samar and apo of the Negros and Mindanao. The species itself forms a superspecies complex with Dicaeum monticolum, D. celebicum, D. sanguinolentum and D. hirundinaceum which are sometimes all treated as one species. Hybridization with Dicaeum cruentatum has been suggested. Many island forms show patterns of very restricted ranges or micro-endemism and it has been suggested that these be treated with care for conservation planning.<p>The populations found in the Philippines have males with the underparts similar to D. monticolum while the females have a steel-green gloss on the upperparts unlike the dull green of more northern forms. The Sumatran population beccarii is the most distinct form and differs also from D. sanguinolentum. The males have a steel-green gloss on the upper parts and lack the throat patch while the females have greenish upperparts and lack the red rump.<p>Throughout its range, the species is found in high mountains above 1000 metres but in China, they may be found during winter at lower altitudes.

迁徙
Resident species

行为

Like many other flowerpeckers, they disperse the seeds of mistletoes. In the Nepal Himalayas, they have been found to be important dispersers of Scurrula species.<p>In Nainital they are said to breed in June and July. The nest is pendant and purse like, opening on the side towards the top. The nest is thin and felt-like, made up of the hairy coverings of stems from mistletoes. The nest is lined with moss and soft grass. Two or three eggs are laid and both sexes incubate and take care of the young.<p>In Hong Kong, their population is believed to have increased with maturation of restored forest. They were first recorded in 1954 but have starter breed regularly since 1975.

保护状况

种群趋势
stable

照片

分布

鸟叫声

其他鸟类

Timneh Parrot

Timneh Parrot

Psittacus timneh

Large gray parrot with a white face and brick red tail. Main habitat is lowland and mid-elevation forest, but will sometimes also use gallery forest, secondary forest, mangroves, and cultivated areas, especially oil palm. Found in pairs or small groups. Very similar to Gray Parrot, but little or no overlap in range, and separated by the brick red rather than bright red tail, as well as the pinkish rather than black top of the bill. Gives a wide variety of loud vocalizations including whistles, bell-like notes, and screeches.

White-flanked Sunbird

White-flanked Sunbird

Aethopyga eximia

A Javanese highland endemic, found from foothill forest and forest edge up into the low, scrubby growth above the treeline. Long-tailed male is stunning and utterly unmistakable, with a rose-red throat and chest, iridescent blue-green “shield” on the forehead, a smoky dark gray belly, and an iridescent blue tail. Female is much less eye-catching, with a gray head, buffish belly, and brown tail. Both sexes have an olive-brown back and a white streak on the side. Forages actively, sometimes in the lower storeys of forest. Gives bland series of chips, as well as a ringing “dink dink dink!” and a quick, descending “sweep”.

Pangani Longclaw

Pangani Longclaw

Macronyx aurantiigula

A large and relatively colorful member of the pipit family with a black necklace, a yellow-orange throat, a yellow breast, and whitish sides with long streaks. The white corners of the dark tail are conspicuous during its weak, fluttering flight. Found in grassland with some bushes and trees. Similar to Yellow-throated Longclaw, though there is only minor overlap in range; orange-throated birds are easily identified, but some individuals have a yellow throat, and these can be separated by their paler and much more heavily streaked flanks. Brownish immatures can be confused with pipits, but are larger and more robust. Not very vocal, but gives a high-pitched whistle and a simple song of doubled phrases. 

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