Family Flowerpeckers (Dicaeidae)

Least Concern

Louisiade Flowerpecker (Dicaeum nitidum)

figure, drawing, illustration of Louisiade Flowerpecker (Dicaeum nitidum)

Taxonomy

French: Dicée des Louisiade German: Louisiadenmistelfresser Spanish: Picaflores de las Luisiadas
Taxonomy:

Dicæum nitidum

Tristram

, 1889,

Sudest (= Tagula) Island, Louisiade Archipelago, New Guinea

.

Considered conspecific with D. pectorale and/or D. geelvinkianum by some authors#R#R. Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution
  • D. n. nitidum Tristram, 1889 – Louisiade Archipelago (Misima I, Tagula I), off SE New Guinea.
  • D. n. rosseli Rothschild & E. J. O. Hartert, 1914 – Rossel I, in E Louisiades.

    • Descriptive notes

    9 cm. Male nominate race has dull red cap, brighter red rump, rest of upperparts dark brownish-grey, glossed blue and green (particularly on mantle and upper­wing-coverts... read more

    Voice

    Short, dry, buzzing insect-like note; single high-pitched upslurred note.

    Habitat

    Forest and secondary growth.

    Food and feeding

    Fruits, presumably including those of mistletoes (Loranthaceae), and spiders (Araneae). Forages in canopy, singly or in pairs.

    Breeding

    No information.

    Movements

    No information.

    Status and conservation

    Not globally threatened. Restrictedrange species: present in Louisiade Archipelago EBA. Very poorly known species. Appears not to be at any risk.

    Recommended citation

    Cheke, R. & Mann, C. (2017). Louisiade Flowerpecker (Dicaeum nitidum). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from http://www.hbw.com/node/60143 on 14 July 2017).