The orange-bellied flowerpecker is a species of bird in the family Dicaeidae. It is found in Bangladesh, Brunei,Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.
Region
Southeast Asia
Typical Environment
Occurs widely from the Malay Peninsula through Singapore, Thailand, Myanmar, Brunei, the Philippines, and much of Indonesia, with outlying records in neighboring regions. It favors lowland and foothill evergreen forest, forest edge, mangroves, and secondary growth. The species readily enters plantations, orchards, and gardens where small fruits are abundant. Often found from mid-canopy to the upper canopy but will descend to feed in fruiting shrubs.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
This tiny flowerpecker is a vital disperser of mistletoe and other small-fruited plants, passing seeds intact after swallowing berries whole. Males show a vivid orange belly contrasted with steel-blue upperparts, while females are more olive and subdued. It adapts well to human-altered landscapes, often visiting parks and gardens with fruiting shrubs.
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually encountered singly, in pairs, or as part of mixed-species flocks moving through fruiting trees. Breeding pairs build small, purse-like pendant nests from plant fibers, lichens, and spider silk. Both sexes participate in nesting and feeding young.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A series of thin, high-pitched tseet and tinkling notes delivered rapidly from the canopy. Calls are sharp and penetrating, often given while foraging. Song phrases are brief and repeated with quick pauses.
Plumage
Male has glossy bluish-slate upperparts with a bright orange belly and cleaner whitish vent; female is olive-green above with yellowish to pale orange underparts. Both sexes have short, stout bills and neat, compact plumage. Underparts are smooth-colored rather than heavily streaked.
Diet
Primarily consumes small berries, especially mistletoe, swallowing them whole and later dispersing seeds. Also takes nectar from small flowers and supplements its diet with tiny insects and spiders. Forages by gleaning and short sallies among foliage and fruit clusters.
Preferred Environment
Feeds in the mid- to upper canopy of fruiting trees and shrubs, including mistletoe clumps. Common at forest edges, secondary growth, gardens, and plantations where small fruits are plentiful.
