Pericrocotus brevirostris
The Short-billed Minivet (*Pericrocotus brevirostris*) is a strikingly vibrant passerine, characterized by its slender build, long tail, and distinctive short bill. Males are a breathtaking sight, sporting glossy black plumage on the head, back, and wings, contrasted sharply with fiery red-orange on the rump, belly, and a prominent wing patch, with corresponding colors on outer tail feathers. Females, while equally beautiful, display a more subdued palette, with the black replaced by dark gre...
Found primarily in subtropical and tropical moist montane forests, as well as temperate forests and woodlands, typically at elevations ranging from 600 to 3000 meters.
Their diet consists predominantly of insects, including beetles, caterpillars, and other arthropods, supplemented occasionally with berries or small fruits.
Short-billed Minivets are highly active and diurnal birds, spending most of their time in the canopy of tall trees. They are primarily arboreal insectivores, employing a restless foraging strategy that involves gleaning insects from foliage and bark, as well as sallying flights to catch prey in m...
The Short-billed Minivet has a broad distribution across the Himalayan range and Southeast Asia. Its breeding range extends from the western Himalayas (Kashmir, northern Pakistan) eastward through Nepal, Bhutan, Northeast India (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland), into Myanmar, northe...
Least Concern
- The 'brevirostris' in its scientific name literally means 'short-billed' in Latin, a key feature distinguishing it from some longer-billed minivet species. - Despite their vibrant colors, they are remarkably adept at blending into the dappled light of the forest canopy, making them a challenge ...