- Suthora alphonsiana
Sinosuthora alphonsiana
Identification
12.5 - 13cm. A medium-sized parrotbill:
- Chestnut crown to nape, sharply demarcated from cold dark brown upperparts
- Dark brown upperwing and tail
- Dark chestnut fringed flight-feathers and tertials
- Dark brownish-grey lores to head side, neck side and breast
- Grey throat with narrow dark streaks
Sexes similar, juveniles more uniformely chestnut-tinged.
Similar species
Differs from Vinous-throated Parrotbill by brownish-grey head side, throat and breast, more sharply defined chestnut crown to nape, darker upperparts and darker chestnut fringing on wings.
Distribution
Found in south China (Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan) and extreme northern Vietnam. An introduced population in Lombardy, northwest Italy.
Fairly common in its restricted race. Found at Palude Brabbia Regional Nature Reserve in Italy in mixed flocks with Vinous-throated Parrotbill, beiing the commoner of the two.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
There are 2 subspecies[1]:
- S. a. alphonsiana:
- Mountains of west-central China (eastern Qinghai, eastern Sichuan and Guizhou)
- S. a. yunnanensis:
- Montane forests of southern China (south-eastern Yunnan) and north-western Tonkin
Two other subspecies: stresemanni and ganluoensis[1] are not recognised by all authorities.
This species was also sometimes regarded conspecific with Vinous-throated Parrotbill.
This species was formerly placed in the genus Paradoxornis.
Habitat
Grass, scrub, thickets, forest edge and tea plantations. In Italy in reed and marshland. Occurs at 320 - 2350m in China.
Behaviour
Outside breeding season seen in fast-moving groups of 10 to 40 birds, sometimes associating with Vinous-throated Parrotbill.
Diet
Feeds on seeds.
Breeding
Breeding season from April to August. The nest is a cup-shaped structure made of bamboo and other leaves and grass. It's placed 0.5 - 1-5m above the ground in a branch fork of a small tree or bush or in a clump of bamboo or grass. Lays 2 - 6 eggs.
Resident species.
Vocalisation
Calls
Recording by china guy, Sichuan, China, August 2011
References
- Clements, J. F., P. C. Rasmussen, T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, A. Spencer, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2023. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2023. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2007. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 12: Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553422
- Avibase
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Ashy-throated Parrotbill. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 20 March 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Ashy-throated_Parrotbill
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
