Imphal: The elusive plain flowerpecker (Dicaeum minullum) has been recorded in Kasom Khullen in Manipur’s Kamjong district after an absence of nearly three decades, marking a notable addition to the region’s recent bird records.
The sighting, reported by local environmental activist Jojo Robertson, has drawn attention to the biodiversity of the forested areas along Manipur’s southeastern frontier with Myanmar.
The plain flowerpecker is a small songbird, measuring around 8 to 9 centimetres in length. Unlike several other flowerpecker species known for brighter colours and distinctive markings, it has a relatively subdued appearance, with brownish-olive upperparts and pale, olive-toned underparts.
The bird has a plain facial pattern, a short curved dark bill and large dark eyes. It is an active species and is often seen around flowering plants, feeding on nectar and small insects.
Locally known as Aentek, the plain flowerpecker is closely associated with the red-spike mistletoe, locally called Aenjet Thae. The parasitic plant grows on the branches of mature trees and depends on birds for the dispersal of its seeds.
The flowerpecker feeds on the mistletoe’s sticky berries. Because the seeds are covered in a viscous substance, the bird often rubs its bill against tree bark after feeding. This helps deposit the seeds onto branches, where they can eventually germinate and establish new mistletoe plants.
The relationship highlights the role of small bird species in maintaining forest ecosystems and supporting the regeneration of plants that depend on specialised seed-dispersal mechanisms.
The plain flowerpecker is distributed across parts of the Himalayan foothills, northeastern India, Myanmar and southern China. Its reported return to Kasom Khullen after several decades has therefore generated interest among local conservationists and bird enthusiasts.
Robertson described the sighting as an encouraging sign of ecological recovery, particularly as communities in the region continue conservation and afforestation initiatives.
The rediscovery also underscores the importance of protecting forest habitats in the border areas, where the survival of species can depend on complex relationships between birds, plants and their surrounding ecosystems.