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Difference between revisions of "Mistletoebird" - BirdForum Opus

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[[Image:Mistletoebird.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by Taco]]
 
[[Image:Mistletoebird.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by Taco]]
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
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Female and male mistletoebirds do not look similar. Like a peacock, the male is more striking to look at. The male is blue-black, has a red chest and a slight red undertail, and a black center stripe running down its white belly. The female is less vibrant compared to the male. The female is dark grey, with only a light grey belly and just a touch of red under the tail. This bird is only 10-11cm in size.
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10-11cm. Blue-black, red chest, slight red undertail, and a black centre stripe running down its white belly. The female is dark grey, with only a light grey belly and just a touch of red under the tail.  
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==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
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The Mistletoebird Dicaeum hirundinaceum is a flowerpecker type bird that mainly lives in Australia, but it can't live in some parts of this country due to arid climates. They are also found in some places of Papua New Guinea, and eastern Indonesia. The bird eats a variety of different foods such as berries and assorted types of insects. When it comes to parenting the male and female both have different jobs.
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[[Australia]], [[Papua New Guinea]], and eastern [[Indonesia]].  
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
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They must live where there are trees and shrubs, so that they can build their nests.  
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Trees and shrubs.  
  
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
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The Mistletoebird eats a variety of different foods. Most commonly it eats the berries of the mistletoe plant, hence the name. It also has been found eating nectar, pollen, spiders, and insects in order to balance its diet. During harvest season the mistletoe bird eats grapes and vines of whose leaves have fallen off.
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Diet includes the berries of the mistletoe plant, as well as nectar, pollen, spiders, and insects.
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The female mistletoe bird builds the nest by herself with no help from the male. The nest is made of crushed plants and spider webs, which holds it together and holds it to the tree. She will lay the eggs in the nest and look after them till they hatch. When they have hatched both parents will feed them.
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By eating the mistletoe, this bird is able to spread the seeds, which is a parasitic plant. When the birds eat the berries, the seeds pass through them, which takes anywhere from 4-25 minutes. Then when they excrete the seeds, they are sticky and stick to the branch of a tree and sprout.
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The female builds the nest of crushed plants and spider webs, and incubates the eggs.
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
 
{{GSearch|Dicaeum+hirundinaceum}}
 
{{GSearch|Dicaeum+hirundinaceum}}
 
*[http://www.aviceda.org/abid/birdimages.php?action=birdspecies&fid=79&bid=1434 View more images of this species on the ABID]
 
*[http://www.aviceda.org/abid/birdimages.php?action=birdspecies&fid=79&bid=1434 View more images of this species on the ABID]
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[[Category:Birds]]
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[[Category:Birds]][[category:incomplete]]

Revision as of 16:18, 19 October 2007

Dicaeum hirundinaceum
Photo by Taco

Identification

10-11cm. Blue-black, red chest, slight red undertail, and a black centre stripe running down its white belly. The female is dark grey, with only a light grey belly and just a touch of red under the tail.

Distribution

Australia, Papua New Guinea, and eastern Indonesia.

Taxonomy

Habitat

Trees and shrubs.

Behaviour

Diet includes the berries of the mistletoe plant, as well as nectar, pollen, spiders, and insects.


The female builds the nest of crushed plants and spider webs, and incubates the eggs.

External Links

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