Pachyglossa olivacea
The Olive-backed Flowerpecker (*Prionochilus olivaceus*) is a diminutive and often elusive passerine belonging to the Dicaeidae family, a group of Old World birds known for their specialized diet. Averaging a mere 7-9 cm in length with a short tail and a stout, pointed bill, this tiny avian jewel typically presents with dull olive-green upperparts, contrasting with paler, often yellowish to buff underparts. Males often exhibit a darker, sometimes purplish-black, crown, which can serve as a su...
This species primarily inhabits tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, including primary and secondary growth, forest edges, and occasionally fruit plantations. It is typically found from lowlands up to lower montane elevations, generally below 1500 meters.
The primary diet consists of small, soft-skinned fruits, especially those of mistletoe species, which are crucial for seed dispersal. They also consume nectar from various flowers and supplement their diet with small insects and spiders, gleaned from foliage.
Olive-backed Flowerpeckers are diurnal and highly active, typically observed singly or in pairs flitting rapidly through the forest canopy and subcanopy. Their foraging strategy involves acrobatic gleaning, often hanging upside down to pluck small berries or extract nectar from flowers, and they ...
The Olive-backed Flowerpecker is endemic to Southeast Asia, with a wide but fragmented distribution across the Greater Sunda Islands and the Philippines. Its primary range includes the Malay Peninsula (from southern Thailand south through Peninsular Malaysia), Sumatra, Borneo, and various islands...
Least Concern
- The Olive-backed Flowerpecker is one of the smallest birds in its range, often weighing less than 10 grams, making it incredibly agile. - It plays a vital role in forest regeneration by dispersing the sticky seeds of mistletoe, which pass rapidly through its specialized digestive system. - Its ...