Olive-capped flowerpecker

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Olive-capped flowerpecker
Nominate subspecies seen in South Cotobato.
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Dicaeidae
Genus: Dicaeum
Species:
D. nigrilore
Binomial name
Dicaeum nigrilore
Hartert, 1904

The olive-capped flowerpecker (Dicaeum nigrilore) 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.

Description and taxonomy[edit]

EBird describes the bird as "A small, rather long-billed bird of montane forest on Mindanao. Olive-green on the back, darker on the edge of the wing, with a golden-olive head, a pale gray throat separated from the head color by a black line, a pale gray chest, and pale yellow on the sides and under the base of the tail. Note the black legs and the red eye. Somewhat similar to olive-backed flowerpecker, but has a longer bill and a yellowish lower belly. Voice includes a high-pitched upslurred whistle and a rough 'jiik!'"[2] Often seen feeding on fruiting and flowering trees.

Subspecies[edit]

Two subspecies are recognized.

  • Dicaeum nigrilore nigrilore found in West, Central and Southern Mindanao has a more visible yellow rump
  • Dicaeum nigrilore diuatae found in Northeast Mindanao has an overall darker green and drabber color and a greenish yellow rump.

A possible third subspecies which has a yellowish-green head is found in Southeast Mindanao. Further study is needed on this potential subspecies.[3]

Habitat and conservation status[edit]

It inhabits tropic moist sub-montane and montane forest above 900 masl.

IUCN has assessed this bird as a least-concern species. Despite a limited range, it is said to be locally common in its range. As it occurs in rugged and inaccessible mountains, this has allowed a large portion of its habitat to remain intact. However, there it is still affected by habitat loss through deforestation, mining, land conversion and slash-and-burn - just not to the same extent as lowland forest. [4]

References[edit]

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Dicaeum nigrilore". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22717497A94535614. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22717497A94535614.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Olive-capped Flowerpecker". Ebird.
  3. ^ Allen, Desmond (2020). Birds of the Philippines. Barcelona: Lynx and Birdlife International Field Guides. pp. 348–349.
  4. ^ International), BirdLife International (BirdLife (2016-10-01). "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Dicaeum nigrilore". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 2021-09-09.