Dicaeum erythrorhynchos
The Pale-billed Flowerpecker (Dicaeum erythrorhynchos) is a remarkably small and active passerine, often considered one of the smallest birds within its extensive range. Measuring a mere 8 cm (3.1 inches) in length and weighing around 5-7 grams, its diminutive size is a key identifying feature. Its plumage is generally drab, featuring dull olive-brown upperparts and creamy white to pale greyish-buff underparts, lacking any striking patterns or bright colors. However, its most distinctive fiel...
Found in dry deciduous forests, scrub jungles, orchards, plantations, and well-wooded gardens, typically from plains up to moderate elevations of 2000 meters.
Feeds predominantly on the fleshy berries and pulp of mistletoe species, supplementing with nectar from various flowers and small insects or spiders.
This diurnal species is incessantly active, flitting rapidly through foliage in search of food. It exhibits remarkable agility, often hanging upside down to extract berries or nectar. Pale-billed Flowerpeckers are primarily solitary or seen in pairs, occasionally joining small, loose foraging par...
The Pale-billed Flowerpecker is a widespread resident breeder across the Indian subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia. Its primary breeding range encompasses peninsular India, extending north to parts of Nepal and Bangladesh, and east into Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. It is ...
Least Concern
- The Pale-billed Flowerpecker is one of the smallest birds found in the Indian subcontinent, barely larger than a human thumb. - It is a crucial 'mistletoe farmer,' playing a vital role in the propagation of mistletoe plants by rapidly digesting and dispersing their sticky seeds. - Mistletoe see...