Pale-Billed Flowerpecker - Average Length: 3.1 inches

The Pale-Billed Flowerpecker, which is widespread in Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, is unremarkable in appearance save from its size. They measure about 3.1 inches in length. This bird, which is prevalent in urban gardens across the Indian subcontinent, can be identified by its high-pitched singing sound. They particularly enjoy stealing Singapore cherry from the gardens they forage from, but mistletoe species make up the majority of their diet.

In fact, to cope with the typically deadly mistletoe, these birds have evolved extraordinarily effective digestive systems. In three to four minutes, the mistletoe berry seed travels through the body and forms a covering that enables it to adhere to trees. Although mistletoe technically qualifies as a parasite that can extract nutrients from the trees it clings to, it also plays a crucial part in improving the soil in the area. Because of this, the Pale-billed Flowerpecker is an important component of the ecology.