The black berrypecker is a species of bird in the family Melanocharitidae. It is found in New Guinea. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest.
Region
New Guinea
Typical Environment
Occurs widely across the lowland and foothill rainforests of New Guinea, including both Papua New Guinea and the Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua. It inhabits primary and secondary moist forests, forest edges, riverine corridors, and tall secondary growth with abundant fruiting plants. The species forages mainly in the midstory to canopy, where small berries are plentiful. It may also appear in village groves and gardens adjacent to forest when fruiting trees are available.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The black berrypecker is a small, unobtrusive forest bird of New Guinea’s lowlands, where it favors fruiting trees and vines. Males are largely uniform black, while females are dull olive-brown, a dimorphism that helps them blend into dense foliage. It often joins mixed-species flocks and plays a role in seed dispersal by swallowing small berries whole.
Temperament
quiet and unobtrusive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly, in pairs, or small family groups, and frequently associates with mixed-species flocks in the midstory. During breeding, pairs keep to well-vegetated territories. The nest is a small cup placed in a fork or on a slender branch concealed by foliage.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are soft, high, and thin, consisting of short whistles and delicate ticking notes. Songs are simple, repeated phrases delivered from inside the canopy and can be easily overlooked in dense forest.
Plumage
Male is uniformly glossy to sooty black; female is olive-brown above with paler, slightly mottled or buff-tinged underparts. Feathers are smooth with a neat, compact appearance. Overall shape is small and short-tailed with a stout, short bill suited to berries.
Diet
Primarily eats small fruits and berries, which it plucks and swallows whole, aiding seed dispersal. It supplements its diet with small arthropods gleaned from leaves and twigs. Foraging is methodical and often occurs quietly within the foliage.
Preferred Environment
Feeds in the midstory to canopy of moist lowland forest, especially at fruiting shrubs and small trees. Also visits edges, secondary growth, and occasionally gardens with berry-bearing plants.
