Alternative name: Brown Suthora; Himalayan Brown Crowtit
- Cholornis unicolor
Identification
21cm. Similar to Three-toed Parrotbill:
- Blackish lateral crown-stripe
- Greyish-brown plumage, warmer brown above
- Indistinctive white eyering
- Long tail
- Stubby yellowish bill
Sexes similar, juveniles have paler underparts.
Similar species
Differs from Three-toed Parrotbill by darker crown, lack of paler forehead, blacker supercilium and darker and warmer upperparts. Brown head, white eyering, black eyebrow, striped head, throat and chest, yellow bill.
Distribution
From central Nepal east along the Himalayas over Bhutan to northeast India, north Burma, adjacent Tibet and south China (Yunnan, Sichuan).
Rather scarce, most common in parts of China.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
Together with Three-toed Parrotbill this species is sometimes placed in the genus Hemirhynchus or Paradoxornis.
Habitat
Bamboo in open broadleaf evergreen forest. Found at 2400 - 3400 in the Himalayas, 1850 - 3600 in China.
Behaviour
Often seen in noisy groups of 6 to 15 (or more) birds. Slow, weak and fluttering flight.
Resident species but some food-related movements likely.
Duet
Feeds on bamboo and bracken buds, moss and other vegetable matter.
Breeding
Breeding season from June to August. No other information.
Vocalisation
Around 20 birds, including young
Recording by china guy, Sichuan, China, August 2011
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2013. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.8., with updates to August 2013. Downloaded from http://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
- Rasmussen, PC and JC Anderton. 2005. Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334672
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Brown Parrotbill. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 27 July 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Brown_Parrotbill
