#flowerpecker

[herpsandbirds]

Orange-Bellied Flowerpecker (Dicaeum trigonostigma), HE SCREMMMM!!!, family Dicaeidae, order Passeriformes, Negros island, Philippines

photograph by Niven Gallenero

[birdstudies]

May 10, 2026 - Halmahera Flowerpecker (Dicaeum schistaceiceps) Found in the North Maluku islands of Indonesia, these flowerpeckers live in forests, shrublands, and wetlands. While the details of their diet are unknown, it is thought to include fruit and possibly nectar and pollen from mistletoes. They forage in the canopy of the forest in pairs or small groups and join mixed-species flocks. While their breeding behavior has not been studied, closely related species build oval-shaped pouch nests from plant fibers and dry grass.

[best-bird-tournament]

Dicaeoidea superfamily

Which is the best bird?

Palawan flowerpecker

Palestine sunbird

Voting ended onJan 3

[todaysbird]

the mistletoebird, also known as the mistletoe flowerpecker, is a member of the flowerpecker family native to the majority of australia as well as the eastern portion of the maluku islands of indonesia. these frugivorous birds are intensely specialized feeders that solely consume mistletoe berries, and are primarily responsible for spread of mistletoe seeds through their droppings. males have a dark blue upperside and a scarlet chest, while females are primarily soft gray. these swift fliers are often shy and tend to keep limited to pairs or small groups.

[tarutikkanen]

Birds

White stork, crimson-brested flowerpecker, black woodpecker, and cream-colored courser.

[randomanimaloftheday]

Day 51#: Scarlet-Backed Flowerpecker

Today's animal of the day is the Scarlet-Backed Flowerpecker (Dicaeum cruentatum)!

Photo credit: Chris Down

This species of passerine bird can be found in the tropical and subtropical lowland forests of southern and eastern Asia. Like many other birds, they are sexually dimorphic, with the males being mostly navy blue and black with pale underbellies and a red streak running down their backs, as their name suggests. Females, on the other hand, are a mostly solid olive green color, which helps them to better blend in with the environment, with some red markings on the upper part of their tails and rumps.

Photo credit: Masvingochick

While these birds typically inhabit lowland forests and other wooded areas, they are also commonly seen in gardens with lots of flowers and fruit-producing plants, with mistletoe seemingly being one of their favorites. Like other species in the flowerpecker family, their diet mostly consists of flower nectar and fruit such as figs, berries, and rose apples. However, they will also eat small insects when given the chance.

Photo credit: Chong Lip Mun

Another common trait that members of the flowerflicker family share is their unique pouch-shaped nests. These nests are made by weaving blades of dry grass, plant fibers, and dead leaves together, and parents typically build them hanging down from a high tree branch in order to make it harder for predators to raid them. Unlike some other species of flowerpeckers, both the male and female work together to incubate their eggs and rear their young.

[cypherdecypher]

Animal of the Day!

Cebu Flowerpecker (Dicaeum quadricolor)

(Photo from PBS)

Conservation Status- Critically Endangered

Habitat- Island of Cebu in the Philippines

Size (Weight/Length)- 12 cm

Diet- Fruits; Mistletoe berries; Flowers

Cool Facts- The sexually dimorphic Cebu flowerpecker is a lover of all things sweet. The males have brilliant red feathers on their back while females tend to be more brown. Their high-in-sugar diet consists of mistletoe berries and flowers along with fruiting trees. Their beak is specially shaped to pluck berries and open flowers to lick at their nectar. Unfortunately, very few Cebu flowerpeckers remain due to habitat fragmentation on account of deforestation and hunting. Efforts to increase protection for the Cebu flowerpecker’s habitat is in effect, starting with the Central Cebu National Park. 

Rating- 12/10 (Thought to have gone extinct but was rediscovered in 1992.)

[bird-of-the-day]

BOTD: Scarlet-Backed Flowerpecker

^image credit: Websumanta, Wikipedia

Scarlet-Backed Flowerpecker (Dicaeum cruentatum)

In 1747, English naturalist George Edwards included an illustration and description of this bird in his book, A Natural History Of Uncommon Birds. He used the name "The little Black, White, and Red Indian Creeper". The Scarlet-Backed Flowerpecker was originally placed in the treecreeper family.