Alternative names: Bar-throated Minla; Stripe-throated Minla; Bar-throated Siva
- Minla strigula
Chrysominla strigula
Identification
With 16 - 18.5 cm a small grey to yellow Babbler1:
- Ragged-crested golden-rufous crown
- Long black malar streak and cross-bars on whitish throat
- Yellow chin and underparts
- Wings boldly patterned orange-yellow and black and grey
- Black tail, bordered and tipped yellow
Juveniles are greyer above and have less yellow on forehead. Subspecies differ on colouration.
Distribution
Found in the mountains of SE-Asia from the Himalayas (India, Nepal, Bhutan) patchily over Myanmar to Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, the Malay Peninsula and S China (Xizang, Yunnan, Sichuan).
Common in parts of its range.1
Taxonomy
Has also been placed in genus Chrysominla, as the three Minlas may not be closely related.
Clements2 accepts seven subspecies:
- M. s. simlaensis in the western Himalayas
- M. s. strigula in the Himalayas from C Nepal to SE Tibet
- M. s. cinereigenae around Mount Javpo in Assam
- M. s. yunnanensis from E Assam to Myanmar, SW China, N Laos and N Vietnam
- M. s. castanicauda in S Myanmar and NW Thailand
- M. s. malayana on the Malay Peninsula
- M. s. traii in S Vietnam
Other authorities treat cinereigenae synonym with yunnanensis and accept only six subspecies. Proposed subspecies victoriae from Myanmar usually not accepted.1
Habitat
Broadleaf evergreen forest (prefers oak), mixed broadleaf-conifer forest, rhododendron forest, also pine forest and scrub. Found from 1800m to 3750m, in winter down to 1300m.1
Behaviour
Feeds on insects (beetles, caterpillars and others) but takes also berries and seeds, sometimes also nectar from rhododendron flowers. Forages in treetops, low herbage and rhododendron.
Outside breeding season in groups of 6 to 20 birds, often in bird waves together with other species like Red-tailed Minla and Yuhinas.
Breeding season from March to August. The nest is a cup made of grass, bamboo leaves and moss, placed in a bush or small tree, 1.5 to 3m above the ground. Lays 2 - 4 eggs.
Resident species with only small altitudinal movements.1
References
- del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. and Christie, D.A. eds. 2007. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 12. Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 84-96553-42-6
- Clements James F. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2007. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. ISBN 978080144509
