Diglossa cyanea
The Masked Flowerpiercer, *Diglossa cyanea*, is a captivating neotropical songbird belonging to the Tanager family (Thraupidae), famed for its unique foraging adaptation. Adults are predominantly a deep, iridescent blue-black, often appearing almost indigo or violet depending on the light, contrasted sharply by a velvety black 'mask' across the lores and around the eye. A distinctive rufous or chestnut patch adorns its undertail coverts, providing a key field mark. Weighing typically around 1...
Inhabits humid montane forests, cloud forests, forest edges, and secondary growth with abundant flowering plants, typically at elevations between 1,500 and 3,500 meters above sea level.
Primarily nectar, obtained through flower piercing, supplemented by insects gleaned from foliage and small fruits.
The Masked Flowerpiercer is a diurnal and highly active bird, constantly flitting through the canopy and subcanopy in search of food. Its foraging strategy is famously specialized: it uses its unique upturned, hooked bill to pierce the base of flower corollas, accessing nectar without aiding in p...
The Masked Flowerpiercer is widely distributed throughout the Andes Mountains of South America, extending from northern Venezuela, through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and south into central Bolivia. It is primarily a resident species, though it undertakes local altitudinal movements, descending to l...
Least Concern
- The Masked Flowerpiercer is a notorious 'nectar robber,' using its specialized bill to pierce the base of flowers and access nectar without pollinating the plant. - Its distinctive upturned, hooked bill is a prime example of evolutionary adaptation to a very specific foraging niche. - Despite i...