Paramythiidae – Painted Berrypeckers

The Paramythiidae (Painted Berrypeckers) are a very small bird family restricted to the mountain forests of New Guinea. The family comprises three species in two genera. These are colourful medium-sized birds, which feed on fruit and some insects. They were formerly included in the Dicaeidae, but DNA-DNA hybridisation studies showed these species were related to each other, yet distinct from the flowerpeckers. Some sources have formerly categorised them as two genera belonging to the Berrypecker family Melanocharitidae.

The family contains three small to medium sized passerines. The smaller species ranges from 12–14 cm in length and weighs around 17–21 g. The larger Crested Berrypeckers are 19–22 cm in length due to differences in altitude with birds being larger at higher altitudes. Both genera have short necks, moderately long and broad rounded wings, and plump bodies. The tails vary, with the Tit Berrypecker having a short square one and the Crested Berrypeckers longish ones. In both genera the short bill is strong and black.

Their plumage is soft, downy and brightly coloured. In both the backs and wings are green and the tail is blue-grey. In the Tit Berrypecker the plumage is sexually dimorphic, with the male having bright yellow patches on the face, wing and chest but the female being overall duller. Both sexes of the Crested Berrypeckers are similar, but the two species exhibit some variation in plumage etc. Both genera have unique filoplumes (hairlike feathers) on the flanks that are not visible in the field and the function of which is unknown.

Tit Berrypecker Oreocharis arfaki – ©Dubi Shapiro

Both genera of painted berrypeckers are endemic to the islands of New Guinea, one of two families to be restricted to the island (the other being the berrypeckers and longbills). Both genera are restricted to montane areas, usually above 2200 m, though the Tit Berrypecker does occur as far down as 850 on occasions, and that species has a generally lower distribution than the crested berrypeckers. Both are arboreal birds of montane forest, particularly mossy forest. At higher altitudes the crested berrypeckers will also inhabit stunted alpine forest and alpine thickets. It is unknown if they make any migratory movements, although it has been suggested that the Tit Berrypecker may be partly nomadic.

As far as is known, the painted berrypeckers are almost entirely frugivorous. Small fruits and berries comprise the biggest part of the diet, although the Tit Berrypecker has also been recorded eating small flowers. The crested berrypeckers have also been observed to occasionally eat insects, and insects as well as fruit comprise the diet of nestlings.