Birds of Singapore
by the Bird Society of Singapore
Pericrocotus igneus
Malay name: Burung-Matahari Kecil Biasa · Chinese name: 火红山椒鸟
Family: Cuckooshrikes · Status: Former resident and very rare visitor · Size: 15–16.5 cm · Conservation: Near Threatened
Resident from southern Myanmar and Thailand south into the Thai-Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo to Palawan in the Philippines.
Male has entirely glossy-black head and upperparts, with bright orange-red wing panel. Undersides and rump are the same bright hue. Female similar to the male, but with grey instead of glossy black upperparts, yellow instead of orange-red underparts and wingpanel, with yellow lores, forehead, cheek, and throat. Juveniles similar to females. Separated from Scarlet Minivet by its smaller size and lack of red/orange tertial wing patch. Female is also separated by bright orange-red rump, while female Scarlet Minivet has yellow rump and uppertail-coverts.
Primary and mature secondary forest and forest edge.
Forages socially in flocks, usually in the canopies of trees. Call is often higher pitched when compared to Scarlet Minivet.