Fire on the wings

SMALL MINIVET

Species : Pericrocotus cinnamomeus

Family : Corvidae

Size : Smaller than sparrow.

The Small Minivet is 16cm long with a strong dark beak and long wings. The male differs from most other common minivets by having grey, not glossy black, upper parts and head, and orange underparts, fading to yellow on the belly, orange tail edges, rump and wing patches.The female is grey above, with yellow underparts including the face, tail edges, rump and wing patches.

These birds are seen in garden , grooves and forest in flocks. Each flock is guided by the male from tree top to tree top. The male is followed mostly by female and young ones.The main food of this bird is insects and larvae.This minivet catches insects in trees by flycatching or while perched.

The nest is a cup-like structure of fibers like materials plastered with cob webs placed on the upper part of a branch at about 20ft or more from the ground.Female lays two to four spotted eggs and incubated for 12 to 15 days alone. Both sexes together raise the chicks.