Diglossa carbonaria
The Grey-bellied Flowerpiercer, *Diglossa carbonaria*, is a fascinating member of the Thraupidae family, renowned for its highly specialized feeding strategy. This small tanager measures approximately 13-14 cm in length and weighs between 11 and 15 grams. Its plumage is predominantly dark slate-gray, appearing almost black on the head, wings, and back, creating a striking contrast with its distinctive ash-gray belly-its most reliable field mark. The species' most unique feature is its slender...
This species primarily inhabits humid montane forests, cloud forest edges, shrublands, and open woodlands in the high Andes, typically found at elevations between 2,000 and 3,500 meters, sometimes up to 4,000 meters. It also frequents *Polylepis* groves and semi-open habitats, including cultivate...
Primarily nectar, which they obtain by piercing the base of flower corollas, supplemented with a significant amount of small insects gleaned from foliage and bark, and occasionally small fruits.
Grey-bellied Flowerpiercers are highly active and often restless birds, typically observed singly or in pairs, though they may join mixed-species flocks outside the breeding season, particularly when foraging for insects. Their most characteristic behavior is their unique feeding strategy: using ...
The Grey-bellied Flowerpiercer (*Diglossa carbonaria*) is endemic to the high Andes of south-central South America, with its primary range extending through southern Bolivia and into northern Argentina. In Bolivia, it is found in departments such as La Paz, Cochabamba, and Santa Cruz. Its distrib...
Least Concern
- Its common name, "Flowerpiercer," directly describes its unique feeding method of puncturing flower bases to steal nectar, often without aiding pollination. - Unlike hummingbirds, flowerpiercers rarely enter the flower mouth, making them 'nectar robbers' rather than effective pollinators for ma...