The black-belted flowerpecker (Dicaeum haematostictum) or Visayan flowerpecker, is a species of bird in the family Dicaeidae. It is endemic to the Philippines where it is restricted to Panay, Negros and Guimaras islands. It was formerly regarded as a subspecies of the more widespread red-keeled flowerpecker (D. australe). Sometimes the name red-keeled flowerpecker is used for D. haematostictum and D. australe is then known as the red-sided flowerpecker.
| Black-belted flowerpecker | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Dicaeidae |
| Genus: | Dicaeum |
| Species: | D. haematostictum
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| Binomial name | |
| Dicaeum haematostictum Sharpe, 1876
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Description and taxonomy
editEBird describes the bird as "A small bird of forest and fairly open woodland from the lowlands to lower elevations in the mountains. Black above, glossed blue, with white underparts marked by a red patch from the chest to the belly, bordered with black around the top. Note the fairly long slender bill. Similar to Fire-breasted Flowerpecker, but has black above the red patch rather than below. Voice includes high-pitched piping as well as "chik!” notes more typical of a flowerpecker."[2]
It was formerly conspecific with the Red-keeled flowerpecker but differs greatly differs in plumage mainly by the black band and much more extensive red on its chest. Previously name red-keeled flowerpecker is used for what is now referred to as Black-belted flowerpecker D. haematostictum and what is now the Red-keeled flowerpecker (D. australe) was then known as the red-sided flowerpecker. This species is monotypic.
Ecology and behavior
editIt is seen feeding on flowering and fruiting trees.[3]
Nests have been found from March to September. Nests are 7 to 11 meters above ground on branches or tree ferns. Lays 1 plae greenish white and spotted egg. [4]
Habitat and conservation status
editIt inhabits tropical moist lowland forest up to 1,000 meters above sea level. It prefers primary forest and secondary forest but has been known to visit cultivations and coconut plantations[3]
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IUCN has assessed this bird as least concern but was formerly Vulnerable due to extensive habitat loss on its range. Habitat loss on both Panay and Negros has been extensive. Primary forests have been almost totally destroyed on Negros (where just 4% of any type of forest cover remained in 1988) and Panay (where 8% remained). Habitat degradation, through clearance for agriculture, timber and charcoal-burning, continues to pose a serious threat to remaining fragments. It is already possibly extinct on Guimaras. However, more surveys revealed that this species is common even in degraded habitats and plantations and thus was downlisted to least concern.
It occurs on a few protected areas Northern Negros Natural Park and Mt. Canlaon National Park and Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Natural Park.
Conservation actions proposed include to conduct surveys in potentially suitable habitat in order to calculate density estimates, and calculate remaining extent of suitable habitat to refine the population estimate and promote areas where it is present to be protected. Promote more effective protection of the Northern Negros Natural Park and other remaining lowland forest tracts in the Western Visayas.
References
edit- ^ BirdLife International (2022). "Dicaeum haematostictum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T22717510A210180058. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T22717510A210180058.en.
- ^ "Black-belted Flowerpecker". Ebird. Archived from the original on 17 November 2019.
- ^ a b Allen, Desmond (2020). Birds of the Philippines. Barcelona: Lynx and Birdlife International Field Guides. pp. 346–347.
- ^ Cheke, Robert; Mann, Clive (2020). "Black-belted Flowerpecker (Dicaeum haematostictum), version 1.0". Birds of the World. doi:10.2173/bow.rekflo1.01species_shared.bow.project_name. ISSN 2771-3105.