About Pericrocotus tegimae Stejneger, 1887
The Ryukyu minivet, with the scientific name Pericrocotus tegimae Stejneger, 1887, is a species of bird in the Campephagidae family. It is endemic to Japan. This species was previously classified as a subspecies of the ashy minivet. Its specific epithet honors Japanese naturalist Seiichi Tegima. Originally, the Ryukyu minivet was endemic only to Japan’s Ryukyu Islands. In the 1970s, the species spread to southern Kyushu; as of 2010, it could be found across the entire island of Kyushu, and also in Shikoku and western Honshu. Researchers have suggested this spread was possible because populations of the related ashy minivet have declined. In 2024, the species was also recorded on Jeju Island, South Korea. The natural habitat of the Ryukyu minivet is evergreen forests and mixed deciduous forests. It also makes use of human-modified habitats, including cedar plantations and gardens. Its elevation range extends from sea level up to 1,700 m, or 5,600 ft.
