Alternative Names: Geelvink Flowerpecker, Papuan Flowerpecker (not to be confused with Dicaeum nitidum), Red capped Flowerpecker
- Dicaeum geelvinkianum
Identification
9 cm, 3.5 inches, 5.3–7.5 g.
Male
- Vermilion crown, rump and uppertail coverts
- Remainder of upperparts dark green
- Dark brown upperwing and tail ,
- Darker shoulder darker some blue iridescence
- White throat
- red patch on chest
- Rest of underparts green-grey
- Pectoral tufts white,
- Centre of belly dull yellow
- Vent and undertail coverts yellow
- Iris brown
- Beak and legs black.
Female
- Similar to male, but lacks red on chest and is paler on belly
Juvenile
- Similar to female, lacking or little red above, mainly pale beak
Distribution
New Guinea and adjacent islands.
Taxonomy
Forms a superspecies with Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Flame-breasted Flowerpecker, Ashy Flowerpecker, Olive-crowned Flowerpecker, Louisiade Flowerpecker, Red-banded Flowerpecker and Midget Flowerpecker.
Subspecies
There are 11 subspecies recognised:[1]
- D. g. maforense: Male differs from setekwa by having a non-glossy dark red crown, rump and uppertail coverts, with a yellow vent and undertail coverts
- Numfor I. (Geelvink Bay off northern New Guinea)
- D. g. misoriense: Has far less red on breast than maforense, has duller upperparts, and vivid red rump
- Biak I. (Geelvink Bay off northern New Guinea)
- D. g. geelvinkianum:
- Yapen and Kurudu islands (Geelvink Bay off northern New Guinea)
- D. g. obscurifrons: Male is similar in size to centrale, but has greener upperparts, has darker underparts, and is duller red on head, the uppertail coverts are duller and have a brownish tinge
- West New Guinea (Wissel Lakes region)
- D. g. diversum: Male has a lighter, bright red crown and uppertail-coverts than rubrocoronatum, has more metallic blue sheen to upperparts
- West central New Guinea (Western Ranges and central portions of the Central Ranges)
- D. g. albopunctatum: Male differs from rubrigulare in that it has white areas between red tip and dark base of feathers on head, rump and uppertail coverts, red pectoral patch reaches over chin and throat to side of breast
- Lowlands of south central New Guinea
- D. g. rubrigulare: Male similar to rubrocoronatum", but with front of neck completely red
- Southern New Guinea (Palmer Junction to mouth of Fly River)
- D. g. rubrocoronatum: Male has bright red crown and rump, rest of upperparts blackish, with purple and blue iridescence, dark green lower back, yellower underparts, tiny red pectoral patch, female with some blue iridescence on dark green-brown upperparts
- Southeast New Guinea
- D. g. violaceum: Male is similar to rubrocoronatum, but with duller and lighter upperparts, purple iridescense, and darker red on crown, rump and breast, underparts greyer, with greyish-green belly
- D'Entrecasteaux Arch. (Fergusson, Goodenough and Dobu islands.)
Habitat
Canopy and upper levels of forest and forest edge, mainly near flowering or fruiting trees, secondary growth, thick savanna, plantations and gardens. Up to 1500 m, infrequently to 2350 m.
D. g. centrale above 1600 m.
Behaviour
Diet
Fruit, large seeds and spiders. Likely also nectar and pollen of mistletoes (Loranthaceae), and maybe other plants. Feeds in the canopy and upper levels.
Breeding
Egg laying recorded in March, November and December. Nest is tapered toward the top, about 100 mm long and 45 mm wide with side entrance of 17 mm close to the top. Made out of grey spider silks and rufous fern strips, matted and well camouflaged. One was suspended from a short, thin Croton tree. 2–3 white eggs.
Vocalisation
A downslurred and buzzing “bszzrt”
Movement
Usually resident. Recorded several times on the Saibai and Boigu Islands in the north Torres Strait, which could mean either there is regular movement from the mainland of New Guinea or there are resident populations on the islands.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2021. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2021. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Avibase
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved November 2015)
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Red-capped Flowerpecker. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 25 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Red-capped_Flowerpecker
