Pachyglossa
| Pachyglossa | |
|---|---|
| |
| Thick-billed flowerpecker (Pachyglossa agilis) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Dicaeidae |
| Genus: | Pachyglossa Blyth, 1843 |
| Type species | |
| Pachyglossa melanozantha Yellow-bellied flowerpecker Blyth, 1843
| |
Pachyglossa is one of the three genera of flowerpeckers that make up the family Dicaeidae. These species are found in montane areas of South and Southeast Asia.
Taxonomy
[edit]The genus Pachyglossa was introduced in 1843 by the English zoologist Edward Blyth with Pachyglossa melanoxantha, Blyth, (the yellow-bellied flowerpecker) as the type species.[1][2] The genus name combines the Ancient Greek παχυς/pakhus meaning "thick" with γλωσσα/glōssa meaning "tongue", "mouth" (or "bill").[3] Molecular phylogetic studies of the flowerpecker family found that the genus Dicaeum was paraphyletic with respect to Prionochilus.[4][5][6] To resolve the paraphyly the genus Pachyglossa was resurrected to contain several species previously placed in Dicaeum as well as one species from Prionochilus, the olive-backed flowerpecker, for which the phylogeny is less certain.[7]
The genus contains seven species:[7]
- Olive-backed flowerpecker, Pachyglossa olivacea – Philippines (except Palawan group, Mindoro, West Visayas and Sulu Archipelago)
- Whiskered flowerpecker, Pachyglossa propria – montane Mindanao (south Philippines)
- Yellow-vented flowerpecker, Pachyglossa chrysorrhea – Himalayas to Borneo and Bali
- Yellow-bellied flowerpecker, Pachyglossa melanozantha – Himalayas to Thailand
- Legge's flowerpecker, Pachyglossa vincens – Sri Lanka
- Brown-backed flowerpecker, Pachyglossa everetti – Malay Peninsula, Riau Islands (east of central Sumatra) and Borneo
- Thick-billed flowerpecker, Pachyglossa agilis – widespread, also Lesser Sunda Islands
In common with the other flowerpeckers, the Pachyglossa flowerpeckers are small birds, between 9–11 cm (3.5–4.3 in) in length and weighing 9–11 g (0.32–0.39 oz). The bill of all the 7 species is deep, broad and short. In terms of plumage the genus is fairly variable.[8]
Like all members of the family nectar and pollen of mistletoe (Loranthaceae) form an important part of their diet. In addition, other fruits are taken. Smaller fruits are consumed whole, or squeezed until skin is removed and discarded, then swallowed, whereas larger fruits are pierced with the bill and chunks removed and swallowed. Insects and spiders are also eaten.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ Blyth, Edward (1843). "Mr. Blyth's monthly Report for December Meeting, 1842, with Addenda subsequently appended". Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. 12 (143): 925–1011 [1009–1010].
- ^ Paynter, Raymond A. Jr, ed. (1986). Check-List of Birds of the World. Vol. 12. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Museum of Comparative Zoology. p. 174.
- ^ Jobling, James A. "Pachyglossa". The Key to Scientific Names. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
- ^ Saucier, J.R.; Milensky, C.M.; Caraballo-Ortiz, M.A.; Ragai, R.; Dahlan, N.F.; Edwards, D.P. (2019). "A distinctive new species of flowerpecker (Passeriformes: Dicaeidae) from Borneo". Zootaxa. 4686 (4): 451–464. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4686.4.1.
- ^ Bowie, R.C.K.; Fjeldså, J. (2020). "Superfamily Passeroidea". In Fjeldså, J.; Christidis, L.; Ericson, P.G.P. (eds.). The Largest Avian Radiation: The Evolution of Perching Birds, or the Order Passeriformes. Barcelona, Spain: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 9788416728336.
- ^ Nyári, Á.S.; Peterson, A.T.; Rice, N.H.; Moyle, R.G. (2009). "Phylogenetic relationships of flowerpeckers (Aves: Dicaeidae): Novel insights into the evolution of a tropical passerine clade". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 53 (3): 613–619. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2009.06.014. hdl:1808/6569. PMID 19576993.
- ^ a b Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (February 2025). "Dippers, leafbirds, flowerpeckers, sunbirds". IOC World Bird List Version 15.1. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
- ^ a b Cheke, R.A.; Mann, C.F. (2008). "Family Dicaeidae (Flowerpeckers)". In del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Christie, D.A. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 13: Penduline-tits to Shrikes. Barcelona, Spain: Lynx Edicions. pp. 350–389. ISBN 978-84-96553-45-3.
