Pachyglossa vincens
The Legge's Flowerpecker (Dicaeum vincens) is a diminutive and strikingly colored passerine bird, endemic to the wet zone and central highlands of Sri Lanka. Measuring approximately 9-10 cm in length and weighing around 7-9 grams, the male is instantly recognizable by its iridescent blue-black upperparts, contrasting sharply with a bright yellow belly and a distinctive white throat patch. Females are much plainer, exhibiting olive-green upperparts and duller yellowish-white underparts, with a...
Primarily inhabits moist evergreen forests, well-wooded gardens, and plantations, from lowlands up to about 1500 meters (occasionally higher) in the montane zone.
Feeds predominantly on the fruits and nectar of mistletoe species, supplemented with small spiders and insects, particularly caterpillars.
Legge's Flowerpeckers are active, diurnal birds, typically observed singly or in pairs, flitting rapidly through the canopy and sub-canopy. They employ agile foraging strategies, often hovering like hummingbirds or gleaning from foliage, primarily targeting mistletoe berries and nectar. While gen...
The Legge's Flowerpecker is strictly endemic to Sri Lanka, primarily confined to the wet zone and the central highlands of the island. Its distribution covers much of the southwestern quadrant of the country, extending into the hill country. Key areas include the Sinharaja Forest Reserve, Kitulga...
Vulnerable
- The Legge's Flowerpecker is one of only two flowerpecker species endemic to Sri Lanka, making it a unique gem of the island's avifauna. - It possesses a specialized tubular tongue, adapted perfectly for sipping nectar and extracting the viscous pulp from mistletoe berries. - This tiny bird is a...