White-sided Flowerpiercer
Diglossa albilatera
The White-sided Flowerpiercer (Diglossa albilatera) is a uncommon tanager found in 4 countries, weighing about 10 g. The white-sided flowerpiercer is a fairly common and widespread species of flowerpiercer.
About the White-sided Flowerpiercer
The white-sided flowerpiercer is a fairly common and widespread species of flowerpiercer. Flowerpiercers are a genus of birds within the tanager family Thraupidae, with specially adapted bills that enable them to pierce the sides of flower blossoms to access the nectar. The white-sided flowerpiercer is found in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and heavily degraded former forest.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
A fairly small flowerpiercer - slightly larger than a black-capped chickadee and slightly smaller than a great tit. Length is 12.2-13.2cm, mass is typically 9.84-10.2g. The male is a blackish-slate colour overall with the exception of white "sides" (pectoral tufts and underwing linings). On a perched bird these white markings are not always noticeable but when the bird flicks its wings as it frequently does the white flash is obvious. Females are olive-brown above and buffy-brown below, with the same white sides.
What the White-sided Flowerpiercer sounds like
Where it lives
When to see it
The White-sided Flowerpiercer can be seen all year round, with peak activity in February. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a White-sided Flowerpiercer?
- A fairly small flowerpiercer - slightly larger than a black-capped chickadee and slightly smaller than a great tit. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a White-sided Flowerpiercer?
- The White-sided Flowerpiercer is a tiny sized bird weighing about 10 g.
- Where can you see a White-sided Flowerpiercer?
- The White-sided Flowerpiercer occurs in 4 countries, including Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela.
- What does a White-sided Flowerpiercer sound like?
- You can listen to 3 field recordings of the White-sided Flowerpiercer on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a White-sided Flowerpiercer?
- The White-sided Flowerpiercer is most easily confused with the Black Flowerpiercer, the Slaty Flowerpiercer and the Masked Flowerpiercer.
- Is the White-sided Flowerpiercer endangered?
- The White-sided Flowerpiercer is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the White-sided Flowerpiercer for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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