Himalayan Black-lored Tit - BirdForum Opus

Photo © by Alok Tewari
Forest-edge, Sattal, Altitude 5500 ft., Uttarakhand Himalayas, India, 30 March-2018

Alternative name: Black-lored Tit

Machlolophus xanthogenys

Identification

13–14 cm (5-5½ in)

• Broad black line (wider in the male) down yellow front
• Black: large crest, neck, throat and head
• Yellow cheeks and supercilia
• Olive-green upperparts
• Two yellowish wingbars
• White outer tail feathers
  

Females and young birds are drabber.

Distribution

In the Himalayas from northern Pakistan to India and at least eastern Nepal.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species.
It was formerly considered conspecific with Indian Black-lored Tit.
Formerly placed in the genus Parus.

Habitat

Open subtropical oak or pine forest, second growth, scrub and gardens.
Occurs from 1000 - 2300m in summer, lower in winter.

Behaviour

Diet

The diet includes insects and spiders from the canopy, and sometimes fruit.

Breeding

Apart from excavating its own, they will utilise woodpecker or barbet holes for their nest. The clutch consists of 3 to 5 red-spotted white eggs.

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. Rasmussen, PC and JC Anderton. 2005. Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334672
3. Avibase
4. Wikipedia

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Himalayan Black-lored Tit. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 1 September 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Himalayan_Black-lored_Tit

External Links

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