The red-chested flowerpecker or blue-cheeked flowerpecker is a species of bird in the family Dicaeidae. It is found on the Lesser Sunda Islands. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest.
Region
Lesser Sunda Islands
Typical Environment
Occurs across the Lesser Sunda Islands, including Timor and surrounding islets, in both lowland and montane habitats. It favors primary and secondary moist forests, forest edges, and wooded gardens where small fruits and nectar are abundant. The species is typically resident, moving locally to track fruiting trees. It tolerates moderate habitat disturbance and often persists in mixed agroforestry landscapes.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1800 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Also known as the blue-cheeked flowerpecker, this tiny bird is an important disperser of mistletoe and other small-fruited plants in the Lesser Sundas. Males show a distinctive red patch on the chest, while females are duller and more olive. It often visits fruiting and flowering trees in forest edges and secondary growth. Its rapid, high-pitched calls can make it easier to detect than to see.
Temperament
active and somewhat shy
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with fast, direct flights between perches
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly, in pairs, or small family groups, and occasionally joins mixed-species flocks. Builds a neat, hanging pouch-like nest from plant fibers and spider silk, typically suspended from a thin branch. Both sexes may attend the nest, with the male often accompanying the female while foraging.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Gives thin, high-pitched see and tzip notes in rapid series. Song is a brief, tinkling sequence repeated from the canopy or mid-story. Calls carry well but are often easily overlooked among insect sounds.
Plumage
Compact, short-tailed flowerpecker with glossy dark upperparts and a contrastingly colored underpart panel. Males show a clean red patch on the chest with bluish-gray cheeks; females are dull olive-gray above and paler below with less distinct coloration.
Diet
Primarily consumes small fruits and berries, especially mistletoe, which it often swallows whole and later disperses the seeds. Also takes nectar from flowers and supplements its diet with small arthropods gleaned from foliage. Foraging is quick and deliberate, with short sallies between fruiting clumps.
Preferred Environment
Feeds in the canopy and mid-story of moist forests, forest margins, and secondary growth. Frequently visits fruiting trees in village gardens and mixed agroforests where native shrubs persist.
