Diglossa plumbea
The Slaty Flowerpiercer (Diglossa plumbea) is a small, distinctive tanager known for its specialized feeding habits and striking appearance in the montane cloud forests of Central America. Measuring approximately 10-11 cm (4-4.3 inches) in length and weighing 9-12 grams, males are characterized by their uniform, dark slaty-gray plumage, often appearing blackish in low light, contrasted by a vivid red or orange eye. A small, often faint, white tuft behind the eye can serve as a subtle field ma...
Found in highland montane evergreen forests, cloud forests, and forest edges, often frequenting shaded clearings with flowering plants. Typically inhabits elevations between 1200 and 3000 meters (approximately 4,000 to 10,000 feet).
Primarily nectar, which they obtain by piercing the base of flower corollas. Supplement their diet with small insects, gleaned from foliage, and various small berries.
Slaty Flowerpiercers are highly active diurnal foragers, often observed methodically visiting flowering plants. Their primary foraging strategy involves using their specialized bill to pierce the base of flower corollas, extracting nectar without entering the flower, a behavior known as nectar-ro...
The Slaty Flowerpiercer is a resident species, with its range exclusively limited to the highland regions of Costa Rica and western Panama. Its primary distribution includes the montane slopes and cloud forests of Costa Rica's Cordillera Central and Cordillera de Talamanca, extending southeast in...
Least Concern
- The Slaty Flowerpiercer's scientific name 'plumbea' is Latin for 'leaden,' referring to its characteristic dark, leaden-gray plumage. - Unlike most nectar-feeding birds, flowerpiercers use their specialized bills to cut a hole at the base of flowers, bypassing the natural opening to access nect...