From Opus

Photo by Dr. Wendy Wright and Dr. Steb Fisher
100km SE of Xichang, Sichuan, China

Paradoxornis brunneus

Includes: Rickett's or Yunnan Parrotbill
Sinosuthora brunnea

[edit] Identification

12 - 13cm.

• Bright chestnut crown to uppermost mantle and head side
• Warm brown upperparts, upperwings and tail
• Vinous throat and upper breast with darker chestnut streaks
• Pale belly, buff-tinged rest of underparts
• White orbital skin
• Brownish-yellow to whitish-yellow bill

Sexes similar. Juveniles have a duller and paler crown and uppermost mantle.

[edit] Similar species

Differs from Vinous-throated Parrotbill by brighter crown which contrasts more with upperparts, plain wings (no chestnut) and darker chestnut streaks on throat and breast.

[edit] Distribution

South China (Yunnan and Sichuan) and north Burma.
Uncommon to fairly common in its restricted range.

[edit] Taxonomy

Three subspecies accepted:

• P. b. brunneus in east and central Burma and east ot south China (Yunnan)
• P. b. styani in Dali region, Yunnan (China)
• P. b. ricketti from southwest Sichuan to northeast Yunnan

The latter is sometimes accepted as full species, Rickett's or Yunnan Parrotbill.
This species was also sometimes regarded conspecific with Vinous-throated Parrotbill.
It's also sometimes placed in the genus Sinosuthora.

[edit] Habitat

Found in scrub, grass and thickets. Sometimes in open forest or at forest edge. At 1525 - 2375m in Burma, 1830 - 2800m in China.

[edit] Behaviour

Feeds on grass and seeds.
Outside breeding season usually seen in pairs or fast-moving groups of up to 35 or more birds.
Breeding season from April to June. The nest is a deep compact cup-shaped structure made of grasses. It's placed up to 60cm above the ground in grass, brambles or rushes. Lays 2 - 4 egggs.
Resident species.

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
2. 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

• List of references

[edit] External Links