Finding the autumn fruits of the persimmon tree still hanging from the branches in the cold month of January is a true blessing for birds.
Also called the “food of the gods” or “Food of Jupiter” from the Greek “Diospyros”, the persimmon is a fruit rich in important nutrients such as minerals, potassium, vitamins A and C. It is a very energetic fruit due to its high sugar content, so during the winter season, if found in the wild, this fruit becomes an important source of nourishment for birds.
Walking through the streets of my town, Costabissara in the province of Vicenza (Italy), I saw and photographed a small passerine bird, the Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita), intent on feeding on this fruit.
The Common Chiffchaff is a small bird, about 11 cm long and weighing 8 grams.
It has olive-brown plumage on the back and lighter, yellow-white shades on the belly.
It has a light hazel stripe above its eyes. Its legs are dark, almost black.
In front of a plant
Stopping in front of a persimmon tree, I noticed how these little birds delightedly feed on the pulp of its fruit.
Acknowledgements
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Giovanni, known to his friends as Gianni, who kindly allowed me to take some photographs of his persimmon tree and its winged visitors.
Author’s Notes
Photos by Maurizio Romio ©. The photos were taken in Costabissara (Vicenza, Italy) in January 2026. To create the photographs I used an OM SYSTEM OM-1 MARK II as the camera body and the OM System M.Zuiko ED 150–600mm f/5.0-6.3 IS Sync telephoto lens as the lens.