Animalia Life

Pericrocotus igneus
TAXONOMY
Pericrocotus igneus Blyth, 1846, Malacca. Sometimes considered a race of small minivet (P. cinnamomeus) but is morphologically distinct and marginally sympatric.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: Small minivet; French: Minivet flamboyant; German: Feuerrotmennigvogel; Spanish: Minivete Chico.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
6–6.5 in (15–16.5 cm); 0.5–0.6 oz (14–16 g). Male has black upperparts and throat with red breast, belly, rump, and outer tail feathers. Female has gray upperparts with orange rump, yellow underparts, and black tail.
DISTRIBUTION
Malay Peninsula (south Burma, south Thailand, Malaysia), Sumatra, Borneo, and southwest Philippines (Palawan).
HABITAT
Canopy of forest and forest edges; also pine plantations and casuarinas. Occurs in lowlands, but lives in montane forest up to 8,900 ft (2,700 m) in Sumatra.
BEHAVIOR
Has a rising “swee-eet” call. Joins mixed-species bird parties.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Not specifically described; probably insects, especially caterpillars and moths. Forages in the canopy.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Probably monogamous. Breeds in Palawan in December (dry season) and in Malaysia in May (start of rains). Nest is not described; probably as for small minivet: a cup of fine twigs, stems, leaves, lichens, and spider webs on a tree branch. Lays two eggs.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not threatened. In the 1980s–90s regarded as locally quite common in Palawan and Sumatra but uncommon in Thailand.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
None known.

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