Mistletoebird

Rotsteiß - Mistelfresser ( Dicaeum hirundinaceum )

The Rotsteiß - Mistelfresser ( Dicaeum hirundinaceum ) is an Australian songbird.

Features

The male is gray white blue black on the upper side and lower side. Throat, breast, and under tail-coverts are scarlet. The female is colored gray-brown on the upper side, gray- white with pale red under tail-coverts.

Occurrence

The Rotsteiß - Mistelfresser lives in the rain forest, in open woods, hedges and thickets in Australia and parts of Indonesia.

Behavior

The bird is looking in bushes and trees for insects, nectar and fruit, mistletoe berries especially. Even after 30 minutes the birds excrete the sticky seeds of this fruit from undamaged. The Rotsteiß - Mistelfresser roams about in small groups, and places the item back long distances.

Reproduction

The female builds between October and March alone a large, dome- shaped nest from plant material and cobwebs, it weaves around the branches of a tree. The nest, from three to four eggs is incubated by the female only. In contrast, both parents feed the young birds.