From Opus
- Sitta oenochlamys
[edit] Identification
12.5cm. A medium to small nuthatch.
- Yellow bill, eyering and iris
- Black forecrown with black stripe extending behind eye
- Violet-blue upperparts variably tinged lilac
- Paler patch on nape/upper mantle
- Blue tail
- White chin and throat
- Pale cinnamon-orange underparts
Sexes similar but females usually lack the eyestripe. Juveniles are similar to adult but they have more orange-toned underparts.
[edit] Distribution
Endemic to the Philippines.
Fairly common where suitable habitat remains.
[edit] Taxonomy
May form a superspecies with Velvet-fronted Nuthatch and Yellow-billed Nuthatch and sometimes placed in a separate gensu Oenositta with these two species.
Six subspecies recognized:
- S. o. mesoleuca in northwestern Luzon
- S. o. isarog in the rest of Luzon
- S. o. oenochlamys on Panay, Guimaras, Negros and Cebu (west-central Philippines)
- S. o. lilacea on Samar, Biliran and Leyte (east-central Philippines)
- S. o. apo on Mindanao (except Zamboanga Peninsula)
- S. o. zamboanga on Zamboanga Peninsula (Mindanao), Basilan and east Bolod Island
[edit] Habitat
Pine and evergreen forest.
From lowlands up to 2600m, commonest at higher elevations.
[edit] Behaviour
Feeds on insects and spiders.
Forages singly, in pairs or small parties, often associated with mixed-species flocks. A very active bird.
Few information about breeding. Birds in breeding condition seen in January and March to May. Breeding recorded in Cebu in mid-June.
A resident species.
[edit] References
- 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
- 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
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