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Mistletoebird (Dicaeum hirundinaceum) Alternate name(s): "Flowerpecker", "Dicaeum Swallow" Aboriginal name(s): Race "hirundinaceum": "moonidjidong", "moonidjit" (WA) Size: 10-11 cm Body mass: 7.5-11 g

Australia: Family Group 25 Family Group 25 Table Mistletoebird Welcome Swallow Barn Swallow White-backed Swallow Fairy Martin Tree Martin Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names Habitat pages Key plants Birds home page

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Mistletoebirds are very small birds. Their plumage is dimorphic, i.e. males and females are different. Male Mistletoebirds have a bright-scarlet throat and breast. Down the middle of the belly they have a broad, dark-grey stripe, while the rest of the belly and the flanks are grey. The vent is pale-scarlet. The entire head and back, including the wings and tail, are glossy-black. Female Mistletoebirds have a light-grey front with some grey scalloping on the breast. The head and back are darker grey, with dark-grey flight feathers and tail. The vent is pale-scarlet. The eyes of both sexes have dark irises. The short bill, the legs and feet are dark-grey. Juveniles resemble female Mistletoebirds, but they have a shorter and lighter-coloured bill with a bright-orange gape.

Taxonomy, classification See Mistletoebird at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Mistletoebird is available HERE . Mistletoebirds are found in Australia and some of the Lesser Sunda Islands in eastern Indonesia. Mistletoebirds, race "hirundinaceum", are thought to be endemic to Australia. They populate the entire Australian continent and also breed everywhere, but they are only rarely found in the major sandy deserts of the interior, i.e. the Nullarbor, Great Victoria Desert, Gibson Desert, Great Sandy Desert and the Simpson Desert. There are no Mistletoebirds in Tasmania and also most other offshore islands, with a few exceptions along the tropical North coast. Mistletoebirds can exist in all kinds of habitat, as long as there are trees with mistletoe. They are most common in open forest and woodland. Where to look? How to find this species? Obviously, there must be Mistletoebirds where there are mistletoe plants. When looking for the species, it is therefore helpful to start in an area with an abundance of mistletoe. Then, since often they stay high up in the crowns of trees, one had best know Mistletoebirds' calls in order to find out whether they are present at the time of observation. Despite the males' striking colours, visual ID of the species can be tricky.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "hirundinaceum" We have found Mistletoebirds, race "hirundinaceum", in various parts of the Australian continent, including the western side of the Great Dividing Range, where we have lived since 2003. A pair of Mistletoebirds, race "hirundinaceum", were breeding residents at Eulah Creek, 20 km East of Narrabri, during the summer of 2006/07. Not seen for a few months during the winter, they returned in late September. Similarly, after months of absence (when there were no seeds for them to feed on), Mistletoebirds appeared there again in September 2010. Since a major clean-up on our property in 2011, fewer Mistletoebirds are seen there. C. Hayne reports spotting Mistletoebirds, race "hirundinaceum", regularly in various locations around Moree, NSW. R. Plumtree reports spotting Mistletoebirds, race "hirundinaceum", nesting along Ensay Doctors Flat Road, East Gippsland, VIC, in December 2013. Seen again in the same area during the 2014 breeding season. We spotted Mistletoebirds, race "hirundinaceum", in various locations in and around Darwin, NT, in August 2014. They were seen in the same area by H. Mouritsen in October 2015 and by are found occasionally by P. Brown. T. Allison reports spotting a Mistletoebird, race "hirundinaceum", on the Mary River at Conondale, QLD, in March 2015. J. Greaves reports spotting a Mistletoebird, race "hirundinaceum", at Boolardy Station, Murchison, WA, in August 2016. M. Eaton reports finding Mistletoebirds, race "hirundinaceum", regularly in SE QLD and also at Cape Melville and the Musgrave Roadhouse, Cape York peninsula, QLD, in August 2019. J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours reports spotting a Mistletoebird, race "hirundinaceum", at Lakefield NP, Cape York peninsula, QLD, in September 2020. In September 2022, C. Pears found a Mistletoebird, race "hirundinaceum", at Depot Hill, near Mingenew, WA. Another was found in Broome, WA, in July 2024.

Photos

Race "hirundinaceum"

ADULT

MALE

Close-up frontal view of a male Mistletoebird
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2019]

Frontal view of a male Mistletoebird (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Gold Scrub Lane, Samsonvale, QLD, May 2020]

Frontal view of a male Mistletoebird taking a large fruit (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead Reserve, Anstead, QLD, June 2017]

Frontal view of a male Mistletoebird looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Lakefield NP, QLD, September 2020]

Near-frontal view of a male Mistletoebird with a conspicuously broad black stripe down its front looking towards the observer
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2020]

Close-up near-frontal view of a male Mistletoebird looking at the observer
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2020]

Close-up near-frontal/ventral view of a male Mistletoebird
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2023]

Close-up lateral view of a male Mistletoebird
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2020]

Close-up lateral view of a male Mistletoebird, temporarily without tail feathers (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Oxley Common, Brisbane, QLD, June 2017]

Lateral/ventral view of a male Mistletoebird (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Gold Scrub Lane, Samsonvale, QLD, May 2020]

Close-up lateral/ventral view of a male Mistletoebird
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2022]

Close-up lateral/ventral view of a male Mistletoebird issuing its call
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2022]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a male Mistletoebird
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, February 2006]

Partly obscured dorsal view of a male Mistletoebird
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, February 2006]

Ventral view of a male Mistletoebird coming out of a Callistemon tree (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2020]

FEMALE

Frontal view of a female Mistletoebird (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, July 2018]

Near-frontal view of a female Mistletoebird (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, July 2018]

Near-lateral view of a female Mistletoebird (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, July 2018]

Lateral view of a female Mistletoebird (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, July 2018]

Lateral view of a female Mistletoebird hiding settling into the dense foliage of a eucalypt for a good night's sleep
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2006]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a female Mistletoebird (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Cape Melville, Cape York peninsula, QLD, August 2019]

Ventral view of a female Mistletoebird wiping its bill (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, July 2018]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Close-up frontal view of an immature male Mistletoebird
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2022]

Close-up near-frontal view of an immature male Mistletoebird looking sideways
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2022]

Close-up near-lateral view of an immature male Mistletoebird
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2022]

Near-lateral/ventral view of an immature, probably female, Mistletoebird looking towards the observer
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2022]

Full-frontal view of a juvenile, probably male, Mistletoebird (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, December 2014]

Near-frontal view of a juvenile, probably male, Mistletoebird (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, December 2014]

Lateral view of a juvenile Mistletoebird (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Palmerston Golf Course, Palmerston, NT, January 2020]

Near-frontal/ventral view of a fledgling Mistletoebird
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2025]

Near-frontal/ventral view of a preening fledgling Mistletoebird
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2025]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Oct - Jan

Eggs: 1 - 3

Incubation period: 14 - 16 days

Fledging age: 15+ days

Nest building: Female

Incubation: Female

Dependent care: Female & male

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Domed hanging basket

Material: Soft plant threads and down

Height above ground: 2 - 5 m

Close-up frontal view of a Mistletoebird nest
[Narrabri, NSW, December 2016]

Close-up lateral view of a female Mistletoebird peeking out of its nest
[Narrabri, NSW, December 2016]

Dorsal view of a female Mistletoebird ducking into its nest
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2008]

Frontal view of a female Mistletoebird in its nest
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2008]

Male Mistletoebird carrying food for its chicks (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay Doctors Flat Road, East Gippsland, VIC, December 2013]

Male Mistletoebird feeding its chicks in the nest (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay Doctors Flat Road, East Gippsland, VIC, December 2013]

Female Mistletoebird feeding a chick in the nest (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay Doctors Flat Road, East Gippsland, VIC, December 2013]

Well-camouflaged Mistletoebird nest (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Cooloola NP, QLD, January 2019]

Frontal view of a female Mistletoebird collecting material for lining its nest
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2012]

Lateral view of a female Mistletoebird collecting material for lining its nest
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2012]

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 17 x 11 mm

Colour: White

Shape: Tapered oval

View into a Mistletoebird's nest, showing three little white eggs inside
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2008]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial

Mobility: Sedentary

Elementary unit: Pair

The propagation of mistletoe plants depends entirely on the habits of Mistletoebirds. They are one of only a few bird species with a stomach adapted to the digestion of the toxic fruit. The mistletoe seeds are in fact only partially digested and then, only about 20 minutes later, shed with a sticky outer layer, with the seed still active. Mistletoebirds have the habit of rubbing the sticky excrement off their backs and leaving it attached to the perch.

Female Mistletoebird in the process of discharge (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, April 2014]

Female Mistletoebird attaching its sticky mess to a branch (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Swan Reach, East Gippsland, VIC, August 2018]

The sticky mess left behind by a Mistletoebird that could not quite hold on to a metal wire; that would be a dfifferent matter on rough bark
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2008]

"Favourite" tree of Mistletoebirds - a box gum eucalypt (click here for more information on mistletoe)
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, February 2009]

Female Mistletoebird going into all kinds of contortions while having a shower (a garden sprinkler reaching a bottlebrush)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2025]

Food, Diet

Adults: Mistletoe fruit/nectar

Dependents: ?

Water intake: None?

The Mistletoebird is unique in that it feeds mainly on the fruit of mistletoe. It is also the only bird (possibly with the exception of the Painted Honeyeater) that can digest these berries. The seeds inside the berries go through the birds' digestive system unharmed, which is how mistletoes are propagated.

Although partly obscured by a twig, one can still see this male Mistletoebird take a mature (red) mistletoe fruit; the plant has more unripe (green) fruit on it
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2016]

Mistletoebirds do not eat fruit entirely, but squeeze pulp and seeds out (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Swan Reach, East Gippsland, VIC, August 2018]

Male Mistletoebird with a big appetite for fruit (photo courtesy of R. Russell)
[Mount Molloy, QLD, November 2009]

Lateral view of a male Mistletoebird taking a large fruit (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead Reserve, Anstead, QLD, June 2017]

Flowers on a mistletoe branch; they are a major attraction to many nectar-eating birds, such as e.g. Singing Honeyeaters; this particular mistletoe is growing in a box gum (eucalypt) - note how the leaves look like eucalypt leaves
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2007]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

mistle_20161206.mp3	hirundinaceum (NW NSW)	Contact calls	© MD
mistle_20150718.mp3	hirundinaceum (NW NSW)	Contact call (male?)	© MD
mistle_20200929.m4a	hirundinaceum (NW NSW)	Territorial calls? (male)	© MD
mistle_20171027.m4a	hirundinaceum (NW NSW)	Territorial calls? (male)	© MD
mistle_jg_20160806.mp3	hirundinaceum (central WA)	Flying over	© JG
mistle_20140521_3.mp3	hirundinaceum (N NSW)	Various	© MD
mistle_20181218.m4a	hirundinaceum (NW NSW)	? (female)	© MD
mistle_20250212.m4a	hirundinaceum (NW NSW)	Begging calls (fledgling)	© MD
mistle_pb_20190805.m4a	hirundinaceum (Top End, NT)	?	© PB
mistle_pb_20190805_2.m4a	hirundinaceum (Top End, NT)	?	© PB
mistle_20241129.m4a	hirundinaceum (NW NSW)	?	© MD

More Mistletoebird sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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