About Pericrocotus cinnamomeus (Linnaeus, 1766)
The small minivet, scientifically named Pericrocotus cinnamomeus (Linnaeus, 1766), reaches 16 cm in length, and has a strong dark beak and long wings. Male small minivets differ from most other common minivets: they have grey upperparts and head instead of glossy black, plus orange underparts that fade to yellow on the belly, as well as orange tail edges, rump, and wing patches. Females are grey on their upperparts, and have yellow underparts (including the face), yellow tail edges, yellow rump, and yellow wing patches. This species shows a great deal of racial variation. For example, male P. c. pallidus from the northwest Indian subcontinent have pale grey upperparts, and whitish underparts except for the throat and flanks. In contrast, male P. c. malabaricus from peninsular and southern India are darker on the upperparts, and have more extensive scarlet coloration on the underparts. Females of the southern race also have brighter yellow underparts.
