Dicaeum haematostictum
The Black-belted Flowerpecker (Dicaeum haematostictum) is a diminutive and strikingly marked passerine endemic to the Visayan islands of the Philippines. Measuring a mere 8-9 cm (3.1-3.5 inches) in length, this species exhibits prominent sexual dimorphism. Males boast glossy blue-black upperparts, pristine white underparts, and a distinctive broad black band across the breast, dramatically offset by a brilliant crimson "blood-spot" on the lower flanks, giving rise to its species name. Females...
Primarily inhabits tropical moist lowland forests, forest edge, and secondary growth, favoring areas with abundant fruiting and flowering trees. Found from sea level up to approximately 1200 meters, occasionally higher.
Specializes in feeding on mistletoe berries, playing a crucial role in their dispersal, supplemented with other small fruits, nectar, and small insects such as spiders and aphids.
This active, diurnal flowerpecker is typically observed singly or in pairs, occasionally joining mixed-species foraging flocks in the canopy and sub-canopy. It forages with rapid, agile movements, constantly searching for its specialized diet of berries and nectar. While specific territorial deta...
The Black-belted Flowerpecker is strictly endemic to the Visayan island group in the central Philippines. Historically, its range included Negros, Panay, Cebu, Guimaras, Masbate, Ticao, Siquijor, and some smaller islands within the Romblon province (Tablas, Sibuyan, Romblon). However, its distrib...
Vulnerable
- The "haematostictum" in its scientific name translates to "blood-spotted," a direct reference to the male's striking crimson flank patch. - It's a key dispersal agent for mistletoe seeds, which it excretes quickly, often still viable, aiding in the parasitic plant's spread. - Despite its vivid ...