(Clearer subspecies image. Basic tidy-up. References updated) |
(Picture of female. Some extra ID info (female & subspecies). References updated) |
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;[[:Category:Leiothrix|Leiothrix]] lutea | ;[[:Category:Leiothrix|Leiothrix]] lutea | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | [[Image: | + | [[Image:VIP 2175e.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Female, subspecies ''kumaiensis''<br />Photo by {{user|Vipul+Ramanuj|Vipul Ramanuj}}<br />Sattal, Uttarakhand, [[India]], May 2015]] |
14 - 15cm (5½-6 in), A small compact and unmistakable Babbler<sup>[[#References|3]]</sup>: | 14 - 15cm (5½-6 in), A small compact and unmistakable Babbler<sup>[[#References|3]]</sup>: | ||
* Mostly greyish-olive | * Mostly greyish-olive | ||
| Line 10: | Line 10: | ||
* Yellow throat | * Yellow throat | ||
* Notched black tail with flared tips | * Notched black tail with flared tips | ||
| + | Female: more greenish-brown, greyer ear-[[Topography#General Anatomy|coverts]], weaker [[Topography#Heads|submoustachial]] stripe, paler below. | ||
| + | ====Variations==== | ||
| + | [[Image:Red-billed_Leiothrix2.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Ssp. ''calipyga''<br />Photo by {{user|Yeshey+Dorji|Yeshey Dorji}}<br />Taba, Thimphu, Western [[Bhutan]], May 2000]] | ||
| + | *''kwangtungensis'': similar to nominate, but their nape and crown is yellower-tinged with more olive-toned posterior upperparts. They have a yellower face, sides of neck and underparts. There is an orange patch at base of [[Topography#Wings|secondaries]]<br /> | ||
| + | *''kumaiensis'': has a greener crown with less of a yellowish wash than nominate. There is little or no chestnut-red wing patch but orange-red distal outer fringes of inner primaries, patch at base of the secondaries is orange<br /> | ||
| + | *''calipyga'' is similar to ''kumaiensis'' but yellower above, orange-red fringes of inner primaries extending entire length of feathers<br /> | ||
| + | *''yunnanensis'' is similar to ''kumaiensis'' above, but [[Topography#Heads|lores]] and ocular area are whitish; chin to breast is paler and the wing has no red or orange colouring. | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
[[Image:23414255 10214294409336795 878990486 n.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Male, Subspecies ''kumaiensis''<br />Photo by {{user|Zagham|Zagham}}<br />Margalla Hills, Islamabad, Pakistan, November 2017]] | [[Image:23414255 10214294409336795 878990486 n.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Male, Subspecies ''kumaiensis''<br />Photo by {{user|Zagham|Zagham}}<br />Margalla Hills, Islamabad, Pakistan, November 2017]] | ||
| Line 15: | Line 22: | ||
Common in parts of its range, but scarce and declining in others due to heavy trading as cagebirds.<br /> | Common in parts of its range, but scarce and declining in others due to heavy trading as cagebirds.<br /> | ||
Introduced populations on the [[Hawaiian Islands]], where it exhibits dramatic and unexplained population fluctuations. There are small but thriving populations of escapees in [[Japan]] since the 1980s. Furthermore small populations got established in [[Germany]], [[Italy]], [[France]], [[Spain]], [[Portugal]], and on [[Reunion]] Island.<sup>[[#References|1]]</sup><br /> | Introduced populations on the [[Hawaiian Islands]], where it exhibits dramatic and unexplained population fluctuations. There are small but thriving populations of escapees in [[Japan]] since the 1980s. Furthermore small populations got established in [[Germany]], [[Italy]], [[France]], [[Spain]], [[Portugal]], and on [[Reunion]] Island.<sup>[[#References|1]]</sup><br /> | ||
| − | |||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
====Subspecies==== | ====Subspecies==== | ||
| Line 37: | Line 43: | ||
Resident species with some altitudinal movement in the Himalayas.<sup>[[#References|1]]</sup> | Resident species with some altitudinal movement in the Himalayas.<sup>[[#References|1]]</sup> | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | # {{Ref-HBWVol12}}#{{Ref-Clements6thAug17}}#Rasmussen, P. C. and Anderton, J. C. 2005. Birds of South Asia. The Ripley Guide. Washington and Barcelona. Smithsonian Institute and Lynx Edicions. ISBN 84-87334-67-9 | + | #{{Ref-HBWVol12}}#{{Ref-Clements6thAug17}}#Rasmussen, P. C. and Anderton, J. C. 2005. Birds of South Asia. The Ripley Guide. Washington and Barcelona. Smithsonian Institute and Lynx Edicions. ISBN 84-87334-67-9 |
#[http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=2908591 Birdforum thread] discussing presence in Europe (post 36 and those following) | #[http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=2908591 Birdforum thread] discussing presence in Europe (post 36 and those following) | ||
| − | #Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved Nov 2017) | + | #Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved Nov 2017 and Apr 2018) |
| + | #Craig Robson Field guide to the birds of SE Asia | ||
| + | #[https://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=360373 Birdforum thread discussing ID of females and subspecies] | ||
{{ref}} | {{ref}} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
Revision as of 21:30, 26 April 2018
Alternative names: Pekin Robin; Peking Robin; Red-billed Mesia
- Leiothrix lutea
Identification
14 - 15cm (5½-6 in), A small compact and unmistakable Babbler3:
- Mostly greyish-olive
- Red bill with dark base
- Pale face and lores
- Yellow throat
- Notched black tail with flared tips
Female: more greenish-brown, greyer ear-coverts, weaker submoustachial stripe, paler below.
Variations
- kwangtungensis: similar to nominate, but their nape and crown is yellower-tinged with more olive-toned posterior upperparts. They have a yellower face, sides of neck and underparts. There is an orange patch at base of secondaries
- kumaiensis: has a greener crown with less of a yellowish wash than nominate. There is little or no chestnut-red wing patch but orange-red distal outer fringes of inner primaries, patch at base of the secondaries is orange
- calipyga is similar to kumaiensis but yellower above, orange-red fringes of inner primaries extending entire length of feathers
- yunnanensis is similar to kumaiensis above, but lores and ocular area are whitish; chin to breast is paler and the wing has no red or orange colouring.
Distribution
Found in the Himalayas, N Burma, N Vietnam and S, SC and E China.
Common in parts of its range, but scarce and declining in others due to heavy trading as cagebirds.
Introduced populations on the Hawaiian Islands, where it exhibits dramatic and unexplained population fluctuations. There are small but thriving populations of escapees in Japan since the 1980s. Furthermore small populations got established in Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, and on Reunion Island.1
Taxonomy
Subspecies
Clements2 accepts six subspecies:
- L. l. kumaiensis in the North West Himalayas (North East Pakistan to North India)
- L. l. calipyga Himalayas from West Nepal over Sikkim, Bhutan and Assam to adjacent South East Tibet
- L. l. luteola from South Assam to South West Burma
- L. l. yunnanensis from North East Burma to South China (Yunnan)
- L. l. kwangtungensis in South and South East China (South East Yunnan, Guangxi, Hunan and Guangdong) and North Vietnam
- L. l. lutea in South-central and East China (Gansu, Shaanxi, Hubei, Anhui, Zhejiang, Fujian, Sichuan, Guizhou and Guangxi)
The Handbook of the World1 however doesn't accept luteola and includes it in calipyga. Furthermore the Doubtful Leiothrix L. (l.) astleyi, known from a pair of birds shipped from S China is now considered to represent mutated cagebirds.
Habitat
Undergrowth of open broadleaf forest, mixed forest, forest edge, secondary growth, scurb, tea plantations, abandoned cultivation. Primarly between 900 and 2400m.1
Behaviour
Diet
Feeds on insects but takes also berries and fruit.
During the breeding season in pairs, outside in groups of 4 - 6 individuals (bigger groups possible), often associating with other species in birdwaves.
Breed
Breeding season generally from April to October, varying through range. The nest is an oval cup, built by the female with grasses, dead bamboo and other leaves. It's placed in bush or bamboo, close to the ground (0.6 to 1.5m). Lays 3 - 5 eggs, the incubation period is 11 - 14 days.
Movements
Resident species with some altitudinal movement in the Himalayas.1
References
- 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
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Rasmussen, P. C. and Anderton, J. C. 2005. Birds of South Asia. The Ripley Guide. Washington and Barcelona. Smithsonian Institute and Lynx Edicions. ISBN 84-87334-67-9
- Birdforum thread discussing presence in Europe (post 36 and those following)
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved Nov 2017 and Apr 2018)
- Craig Robson Field guide to the birds of SE Asia
- Birdforum thread discussing ID of females and subspecies
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Red-billed Leiothrix. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 15 June 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Red-billed_Leiothrix
External Links
