Short-billed Minivet Pericrocotus brevirostris Scientific name definitions

19–20 cm; 16–17 g. Male nominate race has head to upper breast, and mantle and scapulars, glossy blue-black, back to uppertail-coverts deep crimson; upperwing-coverts glossy black, greater coverts crimson, remiges black, basal half of primaries P1-P7 crimson; central pair of rectrices black, next pair crimson with black on basal half, outer three pairs crimson; underparts crimson, thighs blackish, underwing-coverts yellow-orange; iris dark brown; bill and legs black. Differs from P. ethologus in shorter tail with more extensive red, lack of red line along edges of inner secondaries/tertials; from P. flammeus in lack of red spot near tip of inner secondaries and tertials. Female has yellowish forehead, this colour extending to crown, yellow-washed greyish ear-coverts and cheeks, yellowish eyering; upperparts dull ashy grey, lower back to uppertail-coverts yellowish olive-green, crimson in wing and tail replaced by yellow; chin, throat and entire underparts yellow. Juvenile is like female, but upperparts scaled yellowish, upperwing-coverts tipped yellowish-white, side of throat, breast and flanks spotted and barred grey-brown, underparts less extensively yellow, more whitish; immature like female, but young male more orange-yellow on underparts and orange on wings and tail. Races differ mainly in plumage of female: <em>affinis</em> female has less yellow on head, more like P. ethologus; <em>neglectus</em> is smaller than nominate; anthoides female has chin and underparts duller yellow.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Takes adult and larval arthropods; also buds. Usually occurs in pairs; often joins mixed-species foraging flocks. Forages among foliage. No further information.