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Overview
Orange minivet

Orange minivet

Wikipedia

The orange minivet is a brightly colored bird in the cuckooshrike family, Campephagidae. It is found all along the Western Ghats and west coast of India and Sri Lanka. It was formerly considered a subspecies of the scarlet minivet which is considered to have a wider distribution in eastern and northern India and South-east Asia. Its natural habitats are temperate forests, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest. The orange minivet is a species resident in southern India and Sri Lanka, that feeds primarily on insects while foraging in mixed-species bird flocks or in small single-species groups.

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Distribution

Region

Southwestern India and Sri Lanka

Typical Environment

Occurs along the Western Ghats and adjacent west coast forests of India and across suitable forested zones of Sri Lanka. Favors evergreen and moist deciduous forests, shola-grassland mosaics, and well-wooded ravines. Also uses forest edges and tall shade-grown plantations (e.g., coffee and rubber) when canopy continuity is present. Typically forages in the upper canopy but will descend to midstory along edges and clearings.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 2000 m

Climate Zone

Tropical

Characteristics

Size17–20 cm
Wing Span24–28 cm
Male Weight0.024 kg
Female Weight0.022 kg
Life Expectancy8 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

The orange minivet is a vividly colored cuckooshrike of the Western Ghats of India and Sri Lanka, where it remains a year-round resident. It was formerly treated as a subspecies of the scarlet minivet but is now recognized as a separate species with more orange-toned males. It often joins mixed-species flocks high in the canopy and communicates with thin, whistled calls. Pairs build neat, camouflaged cup nests on horizontal branches.

Gallery

Bird photo
Bird photo
Bird photo

Behaviour

Temperament

social and active

Flight Pattern

short rapid wingbeats with agile canopy dashes

Social Behavior

Commonly travels in small groups and readily joins mixed-species foraging flocks in the canopy. Pairs maintain close contact calls while foraging and coordinate movements. The nest is a tidy, shallow cup placed high on a branch, with both sexes participating in nesting and chick rearing.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

Voice is a series of thin, sweet, whistled notes and soft trills. Calls include sharp, high-pitched contact whistles exchanged between flock members. The song carries well through the canopy but is not loud or harsh.

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