A Tiny Bird Whose Breast Is Proudly Emblazoned In Shades Of Fiery Orange!

clonejoe | February 15, 2024 | Articles

Often observed in compact groups, these birds emit a recurring high-pitched “swee swee” call while actively foraging on insects, maintaining continuous movement.

Meet the Small Minivet:

“A Small Minivet looking for food” (cropped) by Hari K Patibanda is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Description & Identification The Small Minivet (Pericrocotus cinnamomeus) belonging to the cuckooshrikes and minivets family (Campephagidae), is a petite bird, measuring 15 to 16 cm in length and weighing 6 to 12 grams. The male of the nominate subspecies features gray upperparts and orange underparts, with a distinctive dark gray lower forehead.

“Mrs. Small Minivet also basking in the sun” by Hari K Patibanda is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

The female, on the other hand, exhibits gray upperparts and whitish or pale creamy yellow underparts.

She possesses a yellow-tipped tail, complemented by a yellow rump and wing patches.

“Mr. Small Minivet basking in the sun” by Hari K Patibanda is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Distribution & Range These minivets are distributed across various countries, including Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and Indonesia. In India, they can be found in all states except for arid regions in Rajasthan and are also present in the Andaman Islands.

Photo courtesy of Vivekpuliyeri/CC BY-SA 3.0

Ecosystem & Habitat The Small Minivet thrives in altitudes ranging from 0 to 1500 meters, showing moderate forest dependence. Their habitats include tropical and subtropical moist lowland forests, tropical dry forests, mangroves, deciduous forests, and tropical and subtropical moist shrublands.

“small minivet” by Parth Kansara is licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Diet & Feeding Behavior Feeding primarily on insects, these minivets consume a variety of prey such as insect pupae, larvae, caterpillars, moths, beetles, grasshoppers, cicadas, crickets, and locusts. They adeptly glean insect prey from trees and engage in flycatching.

“small minivet” by Rejoice Gassah is licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Breeding Habits The breeding season spans from February to November, with some instances of raising a second brood. These monogamous and territorial birds build nests on tree branches and shrubs, crafting small cup-like structures with twigs and leaves. The clutch usually contains two to four blotchy eggs.

“small minivet” (cropped) by Parth Kansara is licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Migration & Movement Patterns Small Minivets are non-migrant residents, dispersing locally after breeding. Populations in higher altitudes may descend to lower levels during winter, and juveniles may disperse and establish in new locations within their range.

“File:Small Minivet (Male) I3 IMG 8062.jpg” by J.M.Garg is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Conservation & Survival While the global population size remains unquantified, the species is considered stable. Although locally very common to uncommon, habitat alteration, deforestation, and capture for the pet trade pose threats. The Small Minivet is currently classified as “Least Concern” by the IUCN.

“Small Minivet at Kutch Photo Dhaval Vargiya” by Dhaval Vargiya is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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