Flowerpiercer

Flowerpiercer
Diglossa lafresnayii
Diglossopis cyanea piercing flower
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Thraupidae
Genus:	Diglossa and Diglossopis

The flowerpiercers are the members of two genera of tanagers, Diglossa and Diglossopis. The latter genus is sometimes subsumed into the former, but at present most authorities maintain them as separate. Based on mtDNA, the indigo flowerpiercer, which traditionally has been placed in Diglossopis, actually belongs in Diglossa. The common name refers to their habit of piercing the base of flowers to access nectar that otherwise would be out of reach. This is done with their highly modified bills, although this is greatly reduced in the bluish flowerpiercer, which has an almost "normal" bill. Most flowerpiercers are restricted to highlands, especially the Andes, in South America, but two species occur in Central America.

Species

• Genus Diglossa
  • Cinnamon-bellied flowerpiercer (Diglossa baritula).
  • Slaty flowerpiercer (Diglossa plumbea).
  • Rusty flowerpiercer (Diglossa sittoides).
  • Venezuelan flowerpiercer (Diglossa venezuelensis).
  • Chestnut-bellied flowerpiercer (Diglossa gloriosissima).
  • White-sided flowerpiercer (Diglossa albilatera).
  • Glossy flowerpiercer (Diglossa lafresnayii).
  • Moustached flowerpiercer (Diglossa mystacalis).
  • Merida flowerpiercer (Diglossa gloriosa).
  • Black flowerpiercer (Diglossa humeralis).
  • Black-throated flowerpiercer (Diglossa brunneiventris).
  • Grey-bellied flowerpiercer (Diglossa carbonaria).
  • Scaled flowerpiercer (Diglossa duidae).
  • Greater flowerpiercer (Diglossa major).
• Genus Diglossopis
  • Indigo flowerpiercer (Diglossopis indigotica).
  • Deep-blue flowerpiercer (Diglossopis glauca).
  • Bluish flowerpiercer (Diglossopis caerulescens).
  • Masked flowerpiercer (Diglossopis cyanea).

References

• Mauck, & Burns (2009). Phylogeny, biogeography, and recurrent evolution of divergent bill types in the nectar-stealing flowerpiercers (Thraupini: Diglossa and Diglossopis). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 98 (1): 14-28.
• Ridgely, R. S., & Tudor, G. (1989). Birds of South America. Vol. 1. Oxford University Press, Oxford. ISBN 0-19-857217-4