A colorful forest-dwelling bird with an elongated tail is frequently found in groups, occasionally mingling with other bird species.
Meet the Orange minivet:
Description: The orange minivet (Pericrocotus flammeus) is a vividly hued bird belonging to the cuckooshrike family, Campephagidae. Measuring approximately 17 – 22 cm and weighing 19 – 24.5 g, male orange minivets showcase vibrant orange and black plumage, whereas females exhibit predominantly yellow hues with a grey upper portion. Males boast a glossy black head, chin, throat, mantle, and upper back, while the lower back, rump, and uppertail-coverts are adorned in orange-red. Their underparts are predominantly bright orange-red, making them conspicuous in their environment.
Females possess a yellow forehead and ashy-grey lower back. The red areas seen in males are replaced by yellow in females, with the addition of a yellow chin and nearly entirely bright yellow undersides.
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Juveniles bear a resemblance to females with slight variations.
Distribution: Its habitat spans the entirety of the Western Ghats and the west coast of India, as well as Sri Lanka.
Habitat: Formerly considered a subspecies of the scarlet minivet, which has a broader distribution in eastern and northern India, as well as Southeast Asia, the orange minivet thrives in temperate forests, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.
Diet: Socially, the orange minivet is gregarious, often spotted foraging in small groups along treetops in forests. Known for making bouncing flights over the forest canopy, they primarily feed on insects by perching and scanning their surroundings. Their foraging technique, known as sally-gleaning, involves catching prey by making short flights and hovering at plant surfaces to pick up insects. They frequently forage in mixed-hunting parties with other canopy bird species. The species emits sweeping whistles composed of multiple “weep-sweep” notes, often heard during flight or when stationary.
Nesting: During the breeding season, occurring from June to October in peninsular India, and from February to May, as well as during August and September (second brood) in Sri Lanka, orange minivets are monogamous. They construct cup-like nests high up in the canopy using grass, twigs, and spiders’ webs. The clutch typically contains two to four spotted pale green eggs, primarily incubated by the female.
Status: This bird is regarded as of Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
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Flashes Of Blazing Yellow And Silver Pierce The Gloomy Undergrowth!
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The underparts are a brighter metallic green.
The male of the species exhibits deep blue!
Both species have similar plumage!
The bird's tail is predominantly dark green!
The sides of their breasts are adorned with black spots!
This small bird is predominantly found inhabiting reed hives often seen wearing a prominent Zorro-like…
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