Pygmy Longbill - BirdForum Opus

Alternative name: Pygmy Honeyeater

Toxorhamphus pygmaeum

Identification

7.3cm. A tiny, short-tailed passerine. The smallest bird on New Guinea.

Sexes similar, females are slightly smaller. Immatures undescribed.

Endemic to New Guinea.
Common and widespread.

Formerly placed in genus Toxorhamphus by Clements.
Three subspecies recognized:

O. p. waigeuense on Waigeo (northern West Papuan Islands)
O. p. pygmaeum on Misool (southern West Papuan Islands) and on mainland New Guinea
O. p. meeki on D'Entrecasteaux Archipelago

The described subspecies flavipectus and olivascens are ususally not accepted and merged in the nominate subspecies.

Subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.
From sea-level up to 800m, locally higher.

Diet poorly known but recorded to take insects and nectar.
Forages mainly in canopy.
Occurs in pairs or small flocks. Often in flowering trees with other species like Rainbow Lorikeet, Red-flanked Lorikeet, Meyer's Friarbird, Helmeted Friarbird, other Honeyeaters and Red-capped Flowerpecker. Also in mixed-species flocks with Black-fronted White-eyes, Hooded Pitohuis and Green-backed Gerygones.
Breeding poorly known.
Presumably a resident species.

Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2013. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.8., with updates to August 2013. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2008. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 13: Penduline-tits to Shrikes. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553453

BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Pygmy Longbill. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 4 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Pygmy_Longbill