Alternative names: Rufous-fronted Tit; Rufous-fronted Bushtit; Blyth's (Long-tailed) Tit; Himalayan Tit; Black-headed Tit
- Aegithalos iouschistos
Includes Rufous-fronted Tit and Burmese Tit
Identification
11cm.
Iouschistos:
- Tiny, fulvous tit
- Buffy cheek and silvery throat-patch
- Broad black mask
- Broad buff coronal stripe
Bonvaloti:
- White coronal stripe, palar, upper breast and vent
- Smoky-grey chin
- Paler sides and white belly
Sharpei:
- Pattern very like White-throated Tit
- Buffy underparts
- More white on throat and head than bonvaloti
Juveniles are much paler but already have the broad crown-stripes.
Distribution
Found from central Nepal east in a small band in the Himalayas to Bhutan and northeast India. In China in Sichuan and adjacent regions. Locally also in Burma (Mount Victoria and at northern boundary to China). | |
Legend • A. iouschistos (Rufous-fronted Tit); year-round |
Taxonomy
Four subspecies accepted which are sometimes split in up to three species:
- A. i. iouschistos (Rufous-fronted Tit)
- A. i. bonvaloti and A. i. obscuratus (Black-browed Tit or Black-headed Tit or Bonvalot's Tit)
- A. sharpei from Mount Victoria (Burmese Tit or Myanmar Tit)
The three forms seem to be morphologically distinct and form a superspecies with White-throated Tit. No evidence of intergradiation or hybridization where ranges meet.
Habitat
Boreal forests and temperate forests, especially rhododendron zone and low scrubby deciduous trees.
Behaviour
Outside the breeding season found in flocks of 10 to 40 birds, foraging through all heights of forest.
Resident with some altitudinal movement in winter.
Diet
Feeds on insects, larvae, sometimes on vegetable matter.
Breeding
Breeds from April to July. The nest is a ball made of lichens and lined with feathers.
References
- 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
- 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) Black-browed Tit. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 1 September 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Black-browed_Tit
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.