Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker (Dicaeum cruentatum)
Order: PASSERIFORMES
Family: DICAEIDAE Flowerpeckers
Scientific name: Dicaeum cruentatum
English name: Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker
Characteristic: Size 9 cm. A tiny, frugivorous bird of plump appearance. A male is more colourful than its mate, by having brilliant scarlet crown, neck, back, to rump. Its cheeks, wings and tail are black, highly contrasting with a white belly. A female has a greyish brown plumage and a smaller red patch extending from its rump to base of tail; also a greyish cream belly.
Distribution: India, Myanmar, China, Hainan, Indo-China, Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo. In Thailand, it distributes widely in all parts.
Habitat: Dry evergreen forest, dipterocarp forest, secondary growth.
Habit: Keeps exclusively to high tree canopy, especially those flourished in flowering and fruiting. It sucks nectar and devours ripe berries of mistletose. Its active habit makes it quite difficult to observe. Breeding season is between March-April, when a normal clutch of 2-3 eggs is laid.
Status: An abundant resident.
