Black-throated Parrotbill - BirdForum Opus

Alternative names: Ashy-eared Parrotbill; Nepal Parrotbill; Orange Parrotbill; Orange Suthora

Photo by Rajkumar Das
Mishmi Hill, Arunachal Pradesh, India, September 2017

Suthora nipalensis

Includes Grey-capped Parrotbill; Orange-eared Parrotbill; Grey-breasted Parrotbill; Buff-breasted Parrotbill and Black-eared Parrotbill

Identification

11·5 cm (4½ in). A very variable, tiny parrotbill.

• Tiny, blackish bill
• Black lateral crown stripe and throat-patch
• White face, short brow and moustache
• Warm brown above
• Mostly orange-rufous wings and tail with silvery and black wing-slashes

Sexes similar. Juveniles have a smaller and paler bill and a smaller and duller throat-patch

Variations

• Grey-capped Parrotbill (see taxonomy) with grey crown and cheek and bright rufous-buff breast and flanks
• Orange-eared Parrotbill (see taxonomy) with orange-rufous ear-coverts
• Grey-breasted Parrotbill (see taxonomy) with rufous crown and grey underparts
• Buff-breasted Parrotbill (see taxonomy) like Grey-capped with buff breast but with rufous crown
• Black-eared Parrotbill (see taxonomy) with black ear-coverts, rufous crown, whitish underparts with buff flanks

Distribution

Found from north India east along the Himalayas to Nepal, Bhutan, northeast India, parts of Burma, south China (Yunnan), north Thailand, Laos and Vietnam.
Common in parts of its range. Generally more common in the Himalayas than in the east of range.

Taxonomy

This species was formerly placed in the genus Paradoxornis.
It was also considered conspecific with Golden Parrotbill.

Subspecies

9 to 10 subspecies recognized which are sometimes split into 5 full species:

• Suthora nipalensis - Black-throated Parrotbill
  • S. n. garhwalensis in north India (Uttarkhand)
  • S. n. nipalensis in west and central Nepal
• Suthora humii - Orange-eared Parrotbill
  • S. n. humii from east Nepal to Bhutan
  • S. n. crocotia in east Bhutan and adjacent Tibet
• Suthora poliotis - Grey-breasted Parrotbill
  • S. n. poliotis in northeast India, west and north Myanmar and south China (Yunnan)
  • S. n. feae in east and southeast Myanmar and northwest Thailand
• Suthora ripponi - Buff-breasted Parrotbill
  • S. n. patriciae in Mizoram (northeast India)
  • S. n. ripponi in Myanmar (Mt. Victoria)
• Suthora beaulieui - Black-eared Parrotbill
  • S. n. beaulieui in northeast Thailand, north and central Laos and north Vietnam
  • S. n. kamoli in south Laos and Vietnam

Habitat

Bamboo and undergrowth in broadleaf evergreen, oak, rhododendron or mixed deciduous forest. Occurs at 1525 - 3300 in the Indian Subcontinent, 1200 - 2650m in southeast Asia.

Behaviour

Diet

Feeds on small insects, bamboo buds, bits of bamboo and grass seeds.
Usually seen in groups of 3 to 40 or more birds, often associated with other species like babblers. Flocks are moving very fast.

Breeding

Breeding season from March to July. The nest is a tiny cup-shaped structure made of bamboo leaves and fine grasses. It's placed close to the ground in a cluster of twigs, bamboo or a thick bush. Lays 2 - 4 eggs.

Movements

Residents species with some altitudinal movements in cold winters.

Gallery

Click on photo for larger image

• 

  Photo by James Eaton
  Mt Victoria, Burma, February 2011

References

1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2021. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2021. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
2. Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2008. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 13: Penduline-tits to Shrikes. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553453
3. Rasmussen, PC and JC Anderton. 2005. Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334672
4. Gill, F. and Donsker, D. (Eds). 2017. IOC World Bird Names (version 7.3). Available at http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Black-throated Parrotbill. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 20 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Black-throated_Parrotbill

External Links

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