Pericrocotus tegimae
The Ryukyu Minivet (*Pericrocotus tegimae*) is an exceptionally striking member of the Campephagidae family, a group often referred to as cuckooshrikes and minivets. Unlike the vibrantly colored minivets typically adorned in reds, oranges, and yellows, this species stands out with its elegant, monochromatic plumage, making it a unique spectacle among its kin. Males boast glossy blue-black upperparts and pristine white underparts, accentuated by a prominent white wing-bar and white outer tail ...
This minivet primarily inhabits subtropical and tropical moist lowland and montane forests, woodlands, and well-wooded parks and gardens, often favoring mature forests near edges or clearings.
Their diet consists mainly of various insects, such as caterpillars, beetles, grasshoppers, and cicadas, and other arthropods, which they expertly glean from foliage or capture in flight; occasionally, they supplement this with small fruits.
Ryukyu Minivets are diurnal and highly active birds, frequently observed in pairs or small, loose flocks, often joining mixed-species foraging parties high in the canopy. Their foraging strategy is predominantly arboreal, involving agile gleaning of insects from foliage and branches, often perfor...
The Ryukyu Minivet is endemic to the Ryukyu Islands, an archipelago stretching southwest from Kyushu, Japan. Its year-round resident distribution encompasses the main island groups, including Amami, Okinawa, Miyako, and Yaeyama Islands. Within this range, it occupies diverse forested habitats fro...
Least Concern
- The Ryukyu Minivet is unique among its genus (*Pericrocotus*) for its largely monochromatic black-and-white plumage, while most other minivets are brightly colored with red, orange, or yellow. - Despite its 'minivet' common name, it belongs to the cuckooshrike family (Campephagidae), which incl...