Mistletoebird

 MISTLETOEBIRD  Dicaeum hirundinaceum

 

I do not think I have seen Mistletoebirds in the Monument area before this month. 

If I have seen them, I perhaps mistook them for Scarlet Robins. 

 

 

I watched this male bird, or was it several birds, a  number times over three days. It was in the same area of cassinia scrub each time, seemingly feeding with a group of Brown Thornbills. My books however tell me, that the Mistletoebird feeds almost exclusively on ........ yes, the fruits of  mistletoe. In fact the digestive tract has adapted to suit this diet.

The brilliance of  the red chest stands out from quite a distance. It is a much deeper and more vibrant red than that of the robins. The heavy black stripe running between the red chest and the white abdomen, certainly sets the Mistletoebird apart from the red chested robins.

The female does not have the same colouring as the male. Her chest and abdomen is a pale creamy grey, with a red patch under her tail.