Bicolored flowerpecker
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The bicolored flowerpecker (Dicaeum bicolor) is a species of bird in the family Dicaeidae. It is endemic to the Philippines.
Description and taxonomy
Ebird describes it as "A tiny bird of lowland and foothill forest and edge. Male has black upperparts with a bluish sheen and whitish underparts washed pale gray on the sides. Female has whitish underparts, brown upperparts, more olive in the wing, and gray on the head. Similar to Flame-crowned Flowerpecker, but male lacks the bright crown patch and female has a whitish rather than yellowish belly. Differs from White-bellied Flowerpecker in its thicker bill. Voice includes a grating “juk!” and a high-pitched metallic “chink!”[1]
This consists of three subspecies
- D. b. bicolor – Found on Leyte, Samar, Mindanao and Bohol
- D. b. inexpectatum – Found on Luzon, Mindoro and Catanduanes
- D. b. viridissimum – Found on Panay, Negros and Guimaras; No recent records on Guimaras[2]
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, pairs and small groups but joins mixed species flocks.
They often form mixed flocks with other flowerpecker species, white-eyes, sunbirds, fantails and other small forest birds.[3]
Habitat and conservation status
Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forest and more rarely on tropical moist montane forests of up to 2,250 meters above sea level.[4]
The IUCN has classified the species as being of Least Concern, while uncommon, has a wide range. The population is believed to be stable. However, deforestation in the Philippines throughout the country due to slash and burn farming, mining, illegal logging and habitat conversion.
It is found in multiple protected areas such as Pasonanca Natural Park, 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. [5][6]
References
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