“Orange-bellied Flowerpecker (Dicaeum trigonostigma) is largely frugivorous and its diet consists of small figs, berries especially Melastoma malabathricum, mistletoe fruits and Muntingia calabura.
“David R Wells 2007 (The birds of the Thai-Malay Peninsular, Volume 2 page 610.) states ” .. and perhaps also for nectar (this species has a protrusible tongue).”
“I have previously posted a nectar feeding episode – see HERE.
“Saw another episode twice by different Orange-bellied Flowerpeckers 1.5 km apart feeding on the nectar of a jungle mistletoe plant (species unknown to me).
“Top image shows an adult male while above shows a female visiting the jungle mistletoe plant. Note that beak of the female is stained with pollen at the base.
‘The above image shows another adult male seen some distance away also feeding on the similar plant.
“Observation of all 3 birds clearly showed them visiting many of these flowers for nectar.”
Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Kledang-Sayong Forest Reserve, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
18th June 2013
Habitat: Open trail through primary jungle of the forest reserve
Note: The mistletoe appears to be Dendrophthoe pentendra – YC Wee.
One Response
Nice picture!