Kingdom Animalia Order Passeriformes Genus Dicaeum Higher classification Dicaeum | Phylum Chordata Family Dicaeidae Scientific name Dicaeum vincens Rank Species | |
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Similar Bird, Ashy‑headed laughingthrush, White‑faced starling, Dicaeum, Midget flowerpecker | ||
Legge s flowerpecker
The Legge's flowerpecker or white-throated flowerpecker (Dicaeum vincens) is a small passerine bird. It is an endemic resident breeder in Sri Lanka. It is named after the Australian ornithologist William Vincent Legge.
Contents
The Legge's flowerpecker is a common resident breeding bird of forests and other well-wooded habitats including gardens. Two eggs are laid in a purse-like nest suspended from a tree.
Description
This is a very small, stout flowerpecker, 10 cm in length, with a short tail, short thick curved bill and tubular tongue. The latter features reflect the importance of nectar in its diet, although berries, spiders and insects are also taken.
The male Legge's flowerpecker has blue-black upperparts, a white throat and upper breast, and yellow lower breast and belly. The female is duller, with olive-brown upperparts.
In Culture
In Sri Lanka, this bird is known as Lanka Pilachcha in Sinhala Language.This bird appears in a one rupee Sri Lankan postal stamp.