Midget Flowerpecker

A tiny stub-tailed green parrot with a golden-bronze back, a narrow red throat, a bright red rump, and a small red shoulder patch. Juveniles are duller and more poorly marked. Singles or small groups occur within treetops of forest and nearby secondary growth areas in the lowlands. No other tiny green, short-tailed parrot occurs within its limited range in the Sula and Banggai islands. Very high-pitched calls include “zeet-weet-wit,” rising in pitch at the end. Sometimes birds only utter the first two notes or single “zeet” notes.

Tiny woodpecker of gallery and coastal forests, including mangroves. Variable in appearance; generally told from other piculets by lack of barring or scalloping on belly, although many individuals have some barring on breast and irregular black spotting on flanks, whereas some are almost entirely unmarked below. Forages at middle and canopy levels, alone or with mixed-species flocks. Climbs along branches and vines, boring into decaying wood for insect prey.

Fairly common but often inconspicuous small diving bird of wetlands with bordering reeds and other vegetation. Often remains out of sight; less often out on open water (mainly in winter). Rather compact, with rounded head, puffy rear end. Seen mainly as singles and small loose flocks, often sleeping during the day. Breeding plumage often looks dark overall; in good light note dark rusty head and neck sides with yellow patch at base of bill. Nonbreeding plumage dingy pale brownish overall with dark cap.