The short-billed minivet (Pericrocotus brevirostris) belongs to the family of cuckooshrikes and minivets, the Campephagidae.
The short-billed minivet species is distributed in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and China. These minivet species inhabit open deciduous and evergreen forests. These minivets are polytypic species.
Appearance, physical description and identification
The short-billed minivet (Pericrocotus brevirostris) is a medium-sized minivet, measuring 19 to 20 cm in length and weighing 15 to 17 grams. These species are sexually dimorphic.The male nominate short-billed minivet has glossy bluish black head, face, nape, throat, upper breast, mantle and scapulars. The back, rump and uppertail-coverts are deep crimson. There is slash of red on the wings.
The female has golden yellow forehead. The crown, ear coverts and mantle are grayish yellow. The throat, breast and underparts are bright yellow. The dark gray wings have yellow patch. The juveniles have duller plumage.
The bill is short, straight and black in color. The irises are blackish in males and deep brown in females. The eye ring is black in males and pale yellow in females. The legs are blackish. The call of these minivet species is a high pitched, loud, whistling "tsuuuit” sound.
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| 1.Birds of India - Image of Short-billed minivet - Pericrocotus brevirostris by Francesco Veronesi |
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| 2.Indian birds - Picture of Short-billed minivet - Pericrocotus brevirostris by Michael Gillam |
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| 3.Birds of India - Photo of Short-billed minivet - Pericrocotus brevirostris by Dr. Raju Kasambe |
Origin, geographical range and distribution
These short-billed minivets are distributed in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and China.The short-billed minivet nominate subspecies P. b. brevirostris is distributed in central and eastern Himalayas in Nepal and northeast India, west Assam (India) and south China (Tibet, southeast Xizang and northwest Yunnan provinces).
The short-billed minivet subspecies P. b. anthoides is distributed in north and central Laos, northern Vietnam and southeast Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi and northern Guangdong provinces in southern China.
The short-billed minivet subspecies P. b. affinis is distributed in northeast India, north Myanmar and southern China (Sichuan, Yunnan). The subspecies P. b. neglectus is distributed in southeast Myanmar and northwest Thailand.
The Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA) of these short-billed minivet species in Laos are, Phou Ahyon, Nam Xam, Nam Ha, Nam Et, Nakai-Nam Theun, Dong Ampham and Eastern Bolikhamxay Mountains.
The IBA of these short-billed minivet species in Nepal are, Makalu Barun National Park, Annapurna Conservation Area, Mai Valley forests, Bardia National Park, Langtang National Park, Kanchenjungha Conservation Area and Dang Deukhuri foothill forests.
Ecosystem and habitat
These short-billed minivet species have moderate forest dependence. They normally occur in altitudes from 1000 to 2700 meters. The artificial ecosystems and habitats of these minivet species include heavily degraded tropical and subtropical forests.The natural ecosystems and habitats of these minivet species include tropical and subtropical dry forests, tropical and subtropical moist montane forests and moist lowland forests.
Diet and feeding behavior
The diet of these short-billed minivet species consists mainly of insects. Insects, insect larvae and plant material like buds are their primary food. They forage among foliage, joining mixed-species foraging flocks.Reproduction and breeding habits
The breeding season of these short-billed minivets is during March and April in most of their range. These species are monogamous. They nest on horizontal outer branches of trees, about ten meters above the ground.Their nest is a cup-like structure built with moss and lichen. The typical clutch contains three eggs.
Migration and movement patterns
These short-billed minivet species are non-migratory resident birds. They disperse locally after breeding. The populations in higher altitudes descent to lower levels during winter.Post breeding, the juveniles may disperse and establish in new locations within the range. Within their range they may make local movements for feeding and breeding.
Short-billed minivet - Quick Facts
- Scientific name: Pericrocotus brevirostris
- Species author: (Vigors, 1831)
- Synonyms/Protonym: Muscipeta brevirostris Vigors, 1831
- Family: Campephagidae › Passeriformes › Aves › Chordata › Animalia
- Vernacular names: English: Short-billed minivet, Chinese: 短嘴山椒鸟, French: Minivet à bec court, German: Kurzschnabel-Mennigvogel, Spanish: Minivet piquicorto, Russian: Короткоклювый длиннохвостый личинкоед, Japanese: コバシベニサンショウクイ
- Other names: Short billed Minivet
- Distribution: India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, China
- Diet and feeding habits: insects, insect larvae, plant material
- IUCN status listing: Least Concern (LC)
Conservation and survival
The global population size of the short-billed minivet (Pericrocotus brevirostris) has not been quantified. The overall population trend of the species is considered to be stable.In most of its range, this species is reported to be fairly common to locally common. The generation length is not known. Its distribution size is about 3,360,000 sq.km.
Habitat alteration and destruction, deforestation, human intrusions and disturbance and trapping adult and juveniles for pet-trade are the main threats that are endangering the survival of these minivet species.
IUCN and CITES status
The short-billed minivet (Pericrocotus brevirostris) does not approach the thresholds for being Vulnerable, either under the range size criterion, or under the population trend criterion or under the population size criterion.The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has categorized and evaluated the species and has listed it as of "Least Concern".
The CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) status is ‘Not Evaluated’ for the short-billed minivet (Pericrocotus brevirostris).
| Taxonomy and scientific classification of Pericrocotus brevirostris | |
|---|---|
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Campephagidae |
| Subfamily: | - |
| Genus: | Pericrocotus |
| Species: | P. brevirostris |
| Binomial name: | Pericrocotus brevirostris |
| IUCN status listing: |
 Least Concern |
The four recognized subspecies of the short-billed minivet (Pericrocotus brevirostris) are: P. b. brevirostris (Vigors, 1831), P. b. anthoides Stresemann, 1923, P. b. neglectus A. O. Hume, 1877 and P. b. affinis (McClelland, 1840).
1.Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/francesco_veronesi/16407998783/ (cropped)
Image author: Francesco Veronesi | License: CC BY-SA 2.0 as on 3/24/18
2.Image source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Short-billed_Minivet_(female)_-_Pericrocotus_brevirostris.jpg (cropped)
Image author: Michael Gillam | License: CC BY 2.0 as on 3/24/18
3.Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Short-billed_Minivet_Pericrocotus_brevirostris_Male_by_Dr._Raju_Kasambe_(30).jpg (cropped)
Image author: Dr. Raju Kasambe | License: CC BY-SA 4.0 as on 3/24/18
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