Family Flowerpeckers (Dicaeidae)
Least Concern
Pygmy Flowerpecker (Dicaeum pygmaeum)
Taxonomy
French: Dicée pygmée German: Zwergmistelfresser Spanish: Picaflores pigmeo
Subspecies and Distribution
D. p. fugaense
Parkes, 1988 – Calayan and Fuga (N of Luzon), in extreme N Philippines.
D. p. salomonseni
Parkes, 1962 – NW Luzon, in N Philippines.
D. p. pygmaeum
(Kittlitz, 1833) – NC & C Philippines (C and S Luzon, Corregidor, Lubang, Polillo Is, Mindoro, Marinduque, Maestre de Campo, Semirara, Sibay, Boracay, Romblon, Sibuyan, Ticao, Masbate, Samar, Gigantes, Calagnaan, Sicogon, Guimaras, Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor, Leyte).
D. p. palawanorum
Hachisuka, 1926 – Calauit, Culion, Palawan and Balabac, in W Philippines.
D. p. davao
Mearns, 1905 – Camiguin Sur and Mindanao, in S Philippines.
Descriptive notes
8·4 cm; 4·5–5·6 g. Rather plain-looking flowerpecker with relatively short, thin bill. Male nominate race has top of head, back, upperwing and tail... read more
Voice
Loud, sharp, almost continuous, irregularly spaced “tip tip…” during foraging;... read more
Habitat
Forest, forest edge and secondary growth, around flowering and fruiting trees, and Loranthus... read more
Food and feeding
Loranthus mistletoes, and probably eats fruit, nectar and pollen of other mistletoes. Forages in canopy, or high in... read more
Breeding
Dependent fledgling in May, and birds with active gonads in Feb, Apr, Jul and Dec. No other information.
Movements
No information.
Status and conservation
Not globally threatened. Common through most of its range, which covers most islands of Philippines.
Original description contained spellings “pygmaea” and “pygmea”; former adopted by same author acting as First Reviser in 1858#R. Five subspecies recognized.