From Opus

Photo by Oregonian
Maidihe, Yunnan, China, March 2013

Alternative names: Black-eared Sibia; White-spectacled Sibia (robinsoni)

Heterophasia desgodinsi

[edit] Identification

With 21.5 to 24.5 cm a slender, long-tailed Babbler:

• Black head
• Black wings
• Black tail with grey tip
• Greyish underneath with whitish throat
• Dark-grey mantle

[edit] Distribution

Found from N Myanmar east to SC and SE China (Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Hunan, Tibet). Depending on the taxonomic boundary with Black-backed Sibia, also found in S Laos and Vietnam.
Generally common in its range.

[edit] Taxonomy

This species was long time considered to be conspecific with Black-backed Sibia.
Five subspecies accepted^1,2:

• H. d. desgodinsi in Northern Myanmar to south-central and south-eastern China (Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Hunan, Tibet)
• H. d. tonkinensis in Northern Vietnam
• H. d. engelbachi in Southern Laos
• H. d. kingi in South-eastern Laos and central Vietnam
• H. d. robinsoni in Southern Vietnam

This species is also placed in the genus Malacias.

[edit] Habitat

Broadleaf evergreen forest, oak and pine forest, forest edge. Found between 800m and 2900m.¹

[edit] Behaviour

Mainly seen in pairs or small groups.

[edit] Diet

Feeds on insects, grubs, berries and also nectar. Forages mainly in the treetops, occasionally near the ground.

[edit] Breeding

Breeding season from April to August. In captivity lays 1 - 3 eggs, no information from wild birds.
Resident species with some minor altitudinal movement.¹

[edit] Vocalisation

[edit] References

1. 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
2. Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist

• List of references

[edit] External Links

• View more images of this species on Orientalbirdimages