Prionochilus
| Prionochilus | |
|---|---|
| Yellow-breasted flowerpecker (Prionochilus maculatus) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Dicaeidae |
| Genus: | Prionochilus Strickland, 1841 |
| Type species | |
| Pardalotus percussus Crimson-breasted flowerpecker Temminck, 1826 | |
Prionochilus is one of the three genera of flowerpeckers that make up the family Dicaeidae. The genus differs from the genus Dicaeum in having ten long primary feathers in the wing and in the character of its calls. A study comparing the calls of the two genera suggested that Prionochilus is basal to Dicaeum. The genus contains 5 species, in contrast to the 44 species in the genus Dicaeum. They have a more restricted distribution than Dicaeum, occurring in the Philippines, Borneo, Sumatra, Java and the Malay Peninsula.