The grey-chinned minivet (Pericrocotus solaris) belongs to the family of cuckooshrikes and minivets, the Campephagidae.
The grey-chinned minivet species is distributed in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Taiwan and China. These minivet species were earlier considered conspecific with Pericrocotus montanus. These minivets are polytypic species.
Appearance, physical description and identification
The grey-chinned minivet (Pericrocotus solaris) is a medium-sized minivet, measuring 17 to 20 cm in length and weighing 10 to 17 grams. These species are sexually dimorphic.The adult male has dark grayish head and blackish wings. The chin, nape, hindneck and upper back are pale and grayish. The underparts and lower back are reddish orange. There is large orange patch on the wing. In female bird, the orange is replaced by yellow.
The bill is black and pointed. The irises are blackish. The legs and feet are grayish. The call of these grey-chinned minivet species is a high pitched, rapid "isisip..isisip" or "chirit-chirit" sound.
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| 1.Birds of India - Image of Grey-chinned minivet - Pericrocotus solaris by Alnus |
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| 2.Indian birds - Image of Grey-chinned minivet - Pericrocotus solaris by Alnus |
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| 3.Birds of India - Image of Grey-chinned minivet - Pericrocotus solaris by 孫鋒 林 |
Origin, geographical range and distribution
These grey-chinned minivet species are distributed in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, China and Taiwan.In India, these species are distributed in the states of Sikkim, northmost West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh.
The grey-chinned minivet nominate subspecies P. s. solaris is distributed in central and east Nepal, Bhutan, India (Sikkim, northmost West Bengal and northeast India), Bangladesh and northwest myanmar.
The subspecies P. s. nassovicus is distributed in south Cambodia and southeast Thailand. The subspecies P. s. deignani is distributed in south Laos and central Vietnam. The subspecies P. s. montpellieri is distributed in southern China.
The grey-chinned minivet subspecies P. s. rubrolimbatus is distributed in southeast Myanmar and northern Thailand. The subspecies P. s. griseogularis is distributed in southeast China, Taiwan, northeast Laos and northern Vietnam.
Ecosystem and habitat
These grey-chinned minivet species have moderate forest dependence. They normally occur in altitudes from 0 to 3000 meters. The artificial ecosystems and habitats of these species include rural gardens and heavily degraded forests.The natural ecosystems and habitats of these grey-chinned minivet species include tropical and subtropical moist montane forests, broadleaf evergreen forests, tropical and subtropical moist lowland forests and dry deciduous forests.
Diet and feeding behavior
The diet of these grey-chinned minivet species consists mainly of insects. Insects, insect larvae, spiders, beetles and termites are their primary food.Reproduction and breeding habits
The breeding season of these grey-chinned minivet species is from April to June in Himalayan region. These species are monogamous. They may raise a second brood. The nest is built on a branch or fork of a tree.The breeding pair construct the deep cup-shaped nest with plant material and cover it with moss and lichens. Both the pair incubate the eggs and raise the young. The clutch size is not known.
Migration and movement patterns
These grey-chinned minivet species are non-migratory resident birds. The populations in the higher altitudes descent to the lower levels in 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.
Grey-chinned minivet - Quick Facts
- Scientific name: Pericrocotus solaris
- Species author: Blyth, 1846
- Synonyms/Protonym: Pericrocotus solaris Blyth, 1846
- Family: Campephagidae › Passeriformes › Aves › Chordata › Animalia
- Vernacular names: English: Grey-chinned minivet, Chinese: 灰喉山椒鸟, French: Minivet mandarin, German: Graukehl-Mennigvogel, Spanish: Minivet gorjigrís, Russian: Серогорлый длиннохвостый личинкоед, Japanese: ベニサンショウクイ
- Other names: Grey-chinned Minivet, Gray-throated Minivet, Mountain Minivet
- Distribution: India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, southeast Asia, China, Taiwan
- Diet and feeding habits: invertebrates, insects, insect larvae
- IUCN status listing: Least Concern (LC)
Conservation and survival
The global population size of the grey-chinned minivet (Pericrocotus solaris) 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 common to scarce. The generation length is not known. Its distribution size is about 4,940,000 sq.km.
Habitat alteration and destruction, deforestation and human intrusions and disturbance are the main threats that are endangering the survival of these species.
IUCN and CITES status
The grey-chinned minivet (Pericrocotus solaris) 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 grey-chinned minivet (Pericrocotus solaris).
| Taxonomy and scientific classification of Pericrocotus solaris | |
|---|---|
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Campephagidae |
| Subfamily: | - |
| Genus: | Pericrocotus |
| Species: | P. solaris |
| Binomial name: | Pericrocotus solaris |
| IUCN status listing: |
 Least Concern |
The six recognized subspecies of the grey-chinned minivet (Pericrocotus solaris) are: P. s. solaris Blyth, 1846, P. s. nassovicus Deignan, 1938, P. s. rubrolimbatus Salvadori, 1887, P. s. deignani Riley, 1940, P. s. griseogularis Gould, 1863 and P. s. montpellieri La Touche, 1922.
1.Grey-chinned minivet image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Minivet_8021.jpg (cropped)
Image author: Alnus | License: CC BY-SA 3.0 as on 5/7/18
2.Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Minivet_9144.jpg (cropped)
Image author: Alnus | License: CC BY-SA 3.0 as on 5/7/18
3.Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/outdoor_birding/26612410490/ (cropped)
Image author: 孫鋒 林 | License: CC BY-SA 2.0 as on 5/7/18
Current topic in Birds of India: Grey-chinned minivet - Pericrocotus solaris.
