Fulvous Parrotbill - BirdForum Opus

Photo by china guy
Wawu Mountains, China, April 2009

Alternative names: Fulvous-fronted Parrotbill; Fulvous-fronted Suthora; Fulvous-fronted Crowtit

Suthora fulvifrons

Identification

12 - 12.5cm.

• Buff head and breast
• Dark brownish-grey lateral crown-stripe
• Buffish-grey upperparts with rufous wing and tail
• Whitish belly
• Warm buff vent

Sexes similar. Juveniles are duller.

Similar species

Recalls Black-throated Parrotbill but is much less boldly marked. Can also be confused with Rufous-fronted Tit but lacks strong head pattern.

Distribution

From central Nepal east along the Himalayas to Bhutan, northeast India, northern Burma, adjacent Tibet and south-central China (Shaanxi to Sichuan).
Uncommon to fairly common in its range.

Taxonomy

• S. f. fulvifrons:

• From central Nepal east over Bhutan to northeast India

• S. f. chayulensis:

• Northeast India (Arunachal Pradesh) and adjacent Tibet

• S. f. albifacies:

• Northern Burma and adjcent south China (southwest Sichaun to extreme southeast Tibet and Yunnan)

• S. f. cyanophrys:

• South-western China (southwest Shaanxi to southcentral Sichuan)

This species was formerly placed in the genus Paradoxornis.

Habitat

Dense bamboo in or near forest. Occurs at 2440 - 3660m, locally lower in China.

Behaviour

Feeds on bamboo and birch buds, seeds and insects.
Outside breeding season usually seen in fast-moving groups of 20 - 30 birds.
Birds with active gonads in June and July in China. No other information about breeding in the wild.
Resident, although food-related movements may occur.

References

1. 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/
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

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Fulvous Parrotbill. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 4 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Fulvous_Parrotbill

External Links

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