Fire-throated flowerpecker

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Fire-throated flowerpecker
Fire-throated Flowerpecker2.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Dicaeidae
Genus: Dicaeum
Species:
D. luzoniense
Binomial name
Dicaeum luzoniense

The fire-throated flowerpecker (Dicaeum luzoniense) is a species of bird in the flowerpecker family Dicaeidae that is found in the Philippines except on the islands of Mindoro, the Palawan group and the Sulu Archipelago. It was formerly considered to be a subspecies of the fire-breasted flowerpecker (Dicaeum ignipectus).

Contents

Description and taxonomy

Ebird describes it as "Tiny songbird of montane forests in the Philippines, where it is found on Luzon, Mindanao, and the Western Visayas. Adult male is dark blue above and pale creamy white below, with a black stripe leading down the belly from a brilliantly red patch like a bloodstain on the breast and lower throat. Female is much plainer, brownish-olive above and pale buff below; compare with Pygmy Flowerpecker, which has a bicolored and more slender downcurved bill. Often forages at flowers blooming in the canopy. Gives a thin, high-pitched “tsee’ee”, as well as a short, high-pitched series with a similar cadence. Formerly treated as a subspecies of Fire-breasted Flowerpecker." [2] The fire-throated flowerpecker was formally described in 1894 by the Scottish ornithologist William Robert Ogilvie-Grant based on specimens collected by the zoologist and explorer John Whitehead in the mountains of northern Luzon in the Philippines. Ogilvie-Grant coined the binomial name Dicaeum luzoniense. [3] [4] The fire-throated flowerpecker was formerly considered to be a subspecies of the fire-breasted flowerpecker (Dicaeum ignipectus) species complex, whcih includes the Cambodian flowerpecker, Sumatran flowerpecker. It is differentiated by a less extensive amount of red with it mostly in the throat, hence the name Fire-throated instea of Fire-breasted, slightly larger size and substantial differences in voicee in which its song is at a slower paced and lower [5]

Subspecies

Three subspecies are recognised: [5]

Ecology and behavior

Not much is known about its diet but it is pressumed to have the typical flowerpecker diet of small fruits, insects, nectar especially from mistletoes. Typically seen singly or in pairs and does not form large groups of its own species but joins mixed species flocks. [4]

Habitat and conservation status

Its natural habitats are tropical moist montane forest from 1,000 meters above sea level although the mysterious subspecies in Samar, which highest point is just 890 meters above sea level and was collected in 100 meters above sea level. Most records are in the range of 1,200 to 1,500 meters above sea level.

The IUCN has classified the species as being of Least Concern despite being uncommon across its range. Montane forest faces less deforestation compared to lowland forest but deforestation in the Philippines continues due to slash-and-burn farming, land conversion and mining.

It is found in multiple protected areas such as Mount Banahaw, Mount Kitanglad. Mount Apo, Mount Pulag and Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park but like all areas in the Philippines, protection is lax and deforestation continues despite this protection on paper. [6]

Related Research Articles

<i>Dicaeum</i> Genus of birds

Dicaeum is a genus of birds in the flowerpecker family Dicaeidae, a group of passerines tropical southern Asia and Australasia from India east to the Philippines and south to Australia. The genus Dicaeum is closely related to the genus Prionochilus and forms a monophyletic group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Handsome sunbird</span> Species of bird

The handsome sunbird is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae. It is endemic to the Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metallic-winged sunbird</span> Species of bird

The metallic-winged sunbird is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae. It is endemic to the Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Striped flowerpecker</span> Species of bird

The striped flowerpecker is a species of bird in the family Dicaeidae. It is endemic to the Philippines. Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forest and tropical moist montane forest. It is part of the Thick-billed flowerpecker species complex and was formerly conspecific with it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellow-crowned flowerpecker</span> Species of bird

The yellow-crowned flowerpecker is a species of bird in the family Dicaeidae. It is endemic to Luzon Island in the Philippines. It was formerly conspecific with the Flame-crowned flowerpecker of Mindanao. Its natural habitat is tropical moist montane forest. It is becoming rare due to habitat loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bicolored flowerpecker</span> Species of bird

The bicolored flowerpecker is a species of bird in the family Dicaeidae. It is endemic to the Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black-belted flowerpecker</span> Species of bird

The black-belted flowerpecker or Visayan flowerpecker, is a species of bird in the family Dicaeidae. It is endemic to the Philippines where it is restricted to Panay, Negros and Guimaras islands. It was formerly regarded as a subspecies of the more widespread red-keeled flowerpecker. Sometimes the name red-keeled flowerpecker is used for D. haematostictum and D. australe is then known as the red-sided flowerpecker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buzzing flowerpecker</span> Species of bird

The buzzing flowerpecker or white-bellied flowerpecker is a species of bird in the family Dicaeidae. It is endemic to the Philippines. Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forest and or tropical moist montane forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fire-breasted flowerpecker</span> Species of bird

The fire-breasted flowerpecker is a species of bird in the family Dicaeidae found in the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Like other flowerpeckers, this tiny bird feeds on fruits and plays an important role in the dispersal of fruiting plants. Unlike many other species in the genus, this species has marked sexual dimorphism with the male having contrasting upper and lower parts with a distinctive bright orange breast patch. The female is dull coloured.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olive-capped flowerpecker</span> Species of bird

The olive-capped flowerpecker is a species of bird in the family Dicaeidae. It is endemic to the island of Mindanao in the Philippines.Its natural habitat is tropical moist montane forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whiskered flowerpecker</span> Species of bird

The whiskered flowerpecker is a species of bird in the family Dicaeidae. It is endemic to the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. Its natural habitat is tropical moist montane forest. It is becoming rare due to habitat loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pygmy flowerpecker</span> Species of bird

The pygmy flowerpecker is a species of bird in the family Dicaeidae. It is endemic to the Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green-backed whistler</span> Species of bird

The green-backed whistler or olive-backed whistler, is a species of bird in the family Pachycephalidae. It is endemic to the Philippines. Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forest and tropical moist montane forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olive-backed flowerpecker</span> Species of bird

The olive-backed flowerpecker is a species of bird in the family Dicaeidae. It is endemic to the Philippines. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stripe-breasted rhabdornis</span> Species of bird

The stripe-breasted rhabdornis, also known as the stripe-breasted creeper or plain-headed creeper, is a species of bird currently placed in the starling family, Sturnidae. It is endemic to the Philippines on the islands of Mindanao, Leyte, Samar and Biliran. It is typically found in tropical montane and submontane forest but has been found as low as 230 masl in Leyte. It is part of a species complex that includes the Visayan rhabdornis and the Grand rhabdornis which were formerly subspecies of this bird.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sulphur-billed nuthatch</span> Species of bird

The sulphur-billed nuthatch is a species of bird in the family Sittidae. It is endemic to the Philippines. Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forest and tropical moist montane forest. It is commonly found in mixed flocks along with Blue-headed fantails, sunbirds, flowerpeckers and other small forest birds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grey-throated sunbird</span> Species of bird

The grey-throated sunbird is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae. It is found in a wide range of semi-open wooded habitats in the northern and eastern part of the Philippines. It is often considered a subspecies of the brown-throated sunbird, but the two differ consistently in measurements and plumage, and there is no evidence of intergradation between them.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flame-crowned flowerpecker</span> Species of bird

The flame-crowned flowerpecker is a species of bird in the family Dicaeidae. It is endemic to Mindanao in the Philippines. The yellow-crowned flowerpecker, which is endemic to Luzon, was formerly considered conspecific.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philippine shortwing</span> Species of bird

The Philippine shortwing is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is endemic to the Philippines where it favours montane forest. It was once conspecific with the White-browed Shortwing.

The Sumatran flowerpecker is a species of bird in the family Dicaeidae that is found in montane Sumatra. It was formerly considered to be a subspecies of the fire-breasted flowerpecker.

References

  1. ↑ BirdLife International (2016). "Dicaeum luzoniense". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T103777506A104324525. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T103777506A104324525.en . Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  2. ↑ "Fire-throated Flowerpecker - eBird". ebird.org. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
  3. ↑ Ogilvie-Grant, William Robert (1894). "Postscript". Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club. 3: 49-51 [50].
  4. 1 2 Paynter, Raymond A. Jr, ed. (1986). Check-List of Birds of the World. Vol. 12. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Museum of Comparative Zoology. p. 196.
  5. 1 2 Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (December 2023). "Dippers, leafbirds, flowerpeckers, sunbirds". IOC World Bird List Version 14.1. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  6. ↑ IUCN (2016-10-01). Dicaeum luzoniense: BirdLife International: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T103777506A104324525 (Report). International Union for Conservation of Nature. doi:10.2305/iucn.uk.2016-3.rlts.t103777506a104324525.en.
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