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Overview
Rosy minivet

Rosy minivet

Wikipedia

The rosy minivet is a species of bird in the family Campephagidae. It is omnivorous.

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Distribution

Region

South and Southeast Asia

Typical Environment

Found from the Himalayan foothills and northern plains of the Indian subcontinent through Myanmar into Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam, with some records in southern China. Prefers open forests, woodland edges, secondary growth, and well-treed parks and gardens. Most activity is in the mid to upper canopy where it forages along outer foliage. It often occurs in small flocks outside the breeding season and moves locally following food availability.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 2000 m

Climate Zone

Tropical

Characteristics

Size17–20 cm
Wing Span25–30 cm
Male Weight0.02 kg
Female Weight0.018 kg
Life Expectancy6 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 2/5

Useful to know

Rosy minivets travel in lively, chattering parties high in the canopy and often join mixed-species flocks. Males show a delicate rose-pink flush that can look whitish in poor light, leading to under-reporting. They hunt by sally-gleaning insects from leaves and twigs. Their neat, cup-shaped nest is placed high in trees and is well camouflaged with lichens.

Gallery

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Behaviour

Temperament

social and active

Flight Pattern

short rapid wingbeats with brief glides

Social Behavior

Often seen in small, mobile flocks and commonly associates with other canopy-feeding passerines. Breeding pairs build a small, lichen-bound cup high on exposed branches. Both parents typically participate in feeding the young. Outside the breeding season it forms larger foraging groups.

Migratory Pattern

Partial migrant

Song Description

Gives thin, sweet, whistled notes and soft, high-pitched trills. Contact calls are sharp and frequent when flocking, while song is a clearer series of whistles from perches high in the canopy.

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