Small minivet facts for kids

The small minivet (scientific name: Pericrocotus cinnamomeus) is a tiny bird. It belongs to a group of birds called passerines, which are often known as 'perching birds'. You can find this colorful minivet bird in warm, tropical parts of southern Asia. It lives from the Indian subcontinent all the way east to Indonesia.

Quick facts for kids Small minivet
P. c. malabaricus
P. c. pallidus
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Synonyms
Motacilla cinnamomea Linnaeus, 1766

What Does a Small Minivet Look Like?

The small minivet is about 16 centimeters (6 inches) long. That's about the length of a regular pencil! It has a strong, dark beak and long wings.

Male vs. Female Birds

• Male Minivets: The male small minivet is quite special. Unlike many other minivets, its upper body and head are grey, not shiny black. Its belly is bright orange, which fades to yellow lower down. It also has orange on its tail edges, rump (the lower back), and wing patches.
• Female Minivets: The female small minivet has a grey upper body. Her face and underparts are yellow. She also has yellow on her tail edges, rump, and wing patches.

Different Types of Small Minivets

There are different types, or "races," of small minivets. They look a bit different depending on where they live.

• The male P. c. pallidus lives in northwest India. It is a pale grey on top. Its belly is mostly whitish, except for its throat and sides.
• The male P. c. malabaricus lives in southern India. It is darker grey on top. Its orange color on the belly is much brighter and covers more area. The female of this southern type also has brighter yellow underparts.

How Do Small Minivets Live?

The small minivet is a very common bird. It lives and breeds in areas with thorny bushes and scrubland.

Nesting and Reproduction

• Small minivets build their nests in the shape of a cup.
• The female bird lays two to four eggs.
• These eggs usually have spots on them.
• The female then sits on the eggs to keep them warm until they hatch. This is called incubation.

What Do Small Minivets Eat?

These birds are insect eaters! They catch insects in trees. They might catch them while flying, which is called "flycatching." Or they might grab insects while sitting on a branch.

Social Life and Sounds

Small minivets often fly around in small groups. If you listen closely, you might hear their call. It's a high, thin sound that goes "swee swee swee."

Gallery

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  Male P. c. malabaricus India

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  Female P. c. malabaricus in India

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  Female in flight

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  Male P. c. pallidus in India

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  Illustration