Thick-billed Flowerpecker

The Thick-billed Flowerpecker, known scientifically as Dicaeum agile, is a diminutive avian species belonging to the flowerpecker family. This bird is characterized by its robust, dark beak and abbreviated tail. The plumage is a somber grey-brown on the dorsal side, while the ventral side exhibits a dull greyish hue with indistinct streaking on a light buff background. The rump may present a slightly more olive tone in the nominate race. Both sexes appear similar in the wild, making field distinction challenging.

Identification Tips

To identify the Thick-billed Flowerpecker, look for its stout and heavy bill, which is dark in color, and the reddish iris that stands out in its small face. Juveniles can be recognized by a paler mandible base and fewer streaks on the underside. Notably, the tail feathers are tipped with whitish spots. The species exhibits subtle variations across its range, with the Sri Lankan subspecies being smaller and darker above.

Habitat

The Thick-billed Flowerpecker is typically found in the upper reaches of forest canopies. While many subspecies inhabit dense lowland forests, the nominate race is more commonly seen in cultivated areas or open forests.

Distribution

This bird boasts a broad distribution across tropical southern Asia, from the Indian subcontinent eastward to Indonesia and Timor. It is a resident species, meaning it does not migrate but stays within its range year-round.

Behaviour

Active and predominantly frugivorous, the Thick-billed Flowerpecker also partakes in nectar and occasionally insects. It exhibits a unique feeding behavior with Loranthus berries, where it does not swallow the fruit whole but rather wipes the seeds on a branch to consume the epicarp, thus dispersing the parasitic mistletoe seeds locally. The bird is known to forage higher in the canopy in Sri Lanka compared to its pale-billed counterpart.

Song & Calls

The Thick-billed Flowerpecker is an audible presence in its habitat, frequently emitting a 'spick' call. Its song is a rambling mix of notes, some of which bear resemblance to the Ashy Prinia's vocalizations. During displays, the male's feathers on the crown are raised, revealing a white stripe, and it produces a twittering sound while fluttering above the female.

Breeding

The nest of the Thick-billed Flowerpecker resembles a camouflaged dry leaf, being a pendant purse-like structure made from cobwebs or fine plant fibers. It is suspended from a thin branch, typically 3 to 15 meters above ground. Breeding season in southern India spans from December to March, with both sexes contributing to nest building. Clutches generally consist of 2 to 4 eggs, with an incubation period of around 13 days and fledging occurring approximately 18 days post-hatching.

Similar Species

The Thick-billed Flowerpecker can be confused with other flowerpeckers, particularly the pale-billed flowerpecker, but can be distinguished by its heavier bill and distinct feeding behavior.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the Thick-billed Flowerpecker is mainly composed of berries and nectar, with insects being a less common component. Its feeding habits contribute to the local dispersion of mistletoe seeds.

Conservation status

The IUCN Red List classifies the Thick-billed Flowerpecker as Least Concern, indicating that the species does not currently face a significant risk of extinction in the wild.