Spectacled Flowerpecker
Encyclopedia
The Spectacled Flowerpecker is a new species
of bird
discovered in the forests of north-eastern Borneo
in June 2009 and apparently belonging to the flowerpecker
family Dicaeidae. It has not yet been formally described or given a scientific name because of limited information and lack of a specimen.
, Sabah
, Malaysia. Further sightings and photographs of more than one individual were made over the next two days by Webster, David Edwards from the University of Leeds
, and Rose Ann Rowlett. The lodge is sited within unlogged tropical rainforest
, 180 m asl
at 5°01’43”N 117°45’5”E. The sightings were made from an observation platform on a suspended walkway within the rainforest canopy. The height of the birds sighted was over 40 m above ground level.
down the breast, which, as well as the vent, was marked with a hint of yellow. Edwards et al. (2009) suggest that two adult individuals were seen, with the more strikingly marked bird the male and the less well-marked bird the female. The prominent broken white eye-rings suggested the use of the term "spectacled" for the common name.
mistletoe
that was parasitising a large Koompassia excelsa
tree. Other species of flowerpecker seen visiting the same mistletoe included the Yellow-breasted
, Yellow-rumped
, Yellow-vented
and Orange-bellied Flowerpecker
s.
, when an individual alighted and departed. On 20 June Edwards saw and heard a putative male (well-marked) bird singing, with a series of about 12 high-pitched see notes, rising and then falling in pitch.
mobile and rarely, if ever, visiting the understorey
of the forest - explaining why the new species remained undetected for so long.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
discovered in the forests of north-eastern Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
in June 2009 and apparently belonging to the flowerpecker
Flowerpecker
The flowerpeckers are a family, Dicaeidae , of passerine birds. The family comprises two genera, Prionochilus and Dicaeum, with 44 species in total. The family has sometimes been included in an enlarged sunbird family Nectariniidae. The berrypeckers of the family Melanocharitidae and the painted...
family Dicaeidae. It has not yet been formally described or given a scientific name because of limited information and lack of a specimen.
Discovery
The new flowerpecker was first observed and photographed on 18 June 2009 by Richard Webster, a tropical ecologist, at the Borneo Rainforest Lodge within the Danum Valley Conservation AreaDanum Valley Conservation Area
Danum Valley Conservation Area is a 438 square kilometres tract of relatively undisturbed lowland dipterocarp forest in Sabah, Malaysia. The area holds unique status in the sense that before it became a conservation area there were no human settlements within the area, meaning that hunting,...
, Sabah
Sabah
Sabah is one of 13 member states of Malaysia. It is located on the northern portion of the island of Borneo. It is the second largest state in the country after Sarawak, which it borders on its southwest. It also shares a border with the province of East Kalimantan of Indonesia in the south...
, Malaysia. Further sightings and photographs of more than one individual were made over the next two days by Webster, David Edwards from the University of Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
, and Rose Ann Rowlett. The lodge is sited within unlogged tropical rainforest
Rainforest
Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...
, 180 m asl
Above mean sea level
The term above mean sea level refers to the elevation or altitude of any object, relative to the average sea level datum. AMSL is used extensively in radio by engineers to determine the coverage area a station will be able to reach...
at 5°01’43”N 117°45’5”E. The sightings were made from an observation platform on a suspended walkway within the rainforest canopy. The height of the birds sighted was over 40 m above ground level.
Description
The first bird sighted had prominent white arcs above and below the eyes, creating a broken eye-ring effect. The white throat was bordered by a diffuse dusky malar, merging into grey sides separated by a white stripe from the throat to the centre of the underparts. The upperparts were slate-grey. There were prominent, pure white pectoral tufts emerging from the carpal joints. The eyes, bill and legs were dark. A different bird seen on 20 June was less well marked, with paler grey plumage, less prominent eye-rings and pectoral tufts, and a less defined stripedown the breast, which, as well as the vent, was marked with a hint of yellow. Edwards et al. (2009) suggest that two adult individuals were seen, with the more strikingly marked bird the male and the less well-marked bird the female. The prominent broken white eye-rings suggested the use of the term "spectacled" for the common name.
Feeding
When observed the birds were feeding in a fruiting epiphyticEpiphyte
An epiphyte is a plant that grows upon another plant non-parasitically or sometimes upon some other object , derives its moisture and nutrients from the air and rain and sometimes from debris accumulating around it, and is found in the temperate zone and in the...
mistletoe
Mistletoe
Mistletoe is the common name for obligate hemi-parasitic plants in several families in the order Santalales. The plants in question grow attached to and within the branches of a tree or shrub.-Mistletoe in the genus Viscum:...
that was parasitising a large Koompassia excelsa
Koompassia excelsa
Tualang, or Koompassia excelsa, is an emergent tropical rainforest tree species in the Fabaceae family. It is found in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand. It is one of the tallest tropical tree species: the tallest measured specimen is 85.8 m or 88 m tall.Tualangs grow mostly in...
tree. Other species of flowerpecker seen visiting the same mistletoe included the Yellow-breasted
Yellow-breasted Flowerpecker
The Yellow-breasted Flowerpecker is a species of bird in the Dicaeidae family. It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.-References:*...
, Yellow-rumped
Yellow-rumped Flowerpecker
The Yellow-rumped Flowerpecker is a species of bird in the Dicaeidae family. It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia on the island of Borneo. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.-References:* BirdLife...
, Yellow-vented
Yellow-vented Flowerpecker
The Yellow-vented Flowerpecker is a species of bird in the Dicaeidae family. It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam...
and Orange-bellied Flowerpecker
Orange-bellied Flowerpecker
The Orange-bellied Flowerpecker is a species of bird in the Dicaeidae family. It is found in Bangladesh, Brunei, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand....
s.
Vocalisation
On 19 June Webster heard two very short, hard flight-notes, similar to those made by the Fire-breasted FlowerpeckerFire-breasted Flowerpecker
The Fire-breasted Flowerpecker is a species of bird in the Dicaeidae family found in South and Southeast Asia. Like other flowerpeckers, this tiny bird feeds on fruits and plays an important role in the dispersal of fruiting plants...
, when an individual alighted and departed. On 20 June Edwards saw and heard a putative male (well-marked) bird singing, with a series of about 12 high-pitched see notes, rising and then falling in pitch.
Ecology
Edwards et al. (2009) speculate that the Spectacled Flowerpecker is a rainforest canopy specialist, relying on ephemeral epiphytic fruits such as mistletoes, being highlymobile and rarely, if ever, visiting the understorey
Understory
Understory is the term for the area of a forest which grows at the lowest height level below the forest canopy. Plants in the understory consist of a mixture of seedlings and saplings of canopy trees together with understory shrubs and herbs...
of the forest - explaining why the new species remained undetected for so long.
External links
- Photograph of a spectacled flowerpecker, from newsimg.bbc.co.uk
