White-bellied Erpornis - BirdForum Opus

Photo © by Nolan.Hwang
Zhongpu, Chiayi, Taiwan, May 2010

Alternative name: White-bellied Yuhina

Erpornis zantholeuca

Identification

11 - 13 cm (4¼-5 in) a small passerine, yuhina-like, but most probably a Vireo:

Yellowish-green upperparts
Greyish-white underparts
Yellow vent
Slender bill with tip slightly bend over
Crown with elongated feathers

Sexes are similar, juveniles duller than adults. The geographical variation is small, the subspecies differ slightly in tone.

Distribution

Found in South East Asia from the Himalayas (Nepal, Bhutan, India) east to South China (including Hong Kong and Taiwan), Myanmar, Thailand and Indochina. Also south to the Malay Peninsula, in North West Sumatra and Borneo.²
Common in parts of its range.²

Taxonomy

Clements accepts 8 subspecies¹:

E. z. zantholeuca in the Himalayas over N Myanmar to S China and in W Thailand.
E. z. tyrannulus south of zantholeuca in Thailand, Indochina and S China
E. z. griseiloris in SE China and Taiwan
E. z. sordida in E Thailand and S Indochina
E. z. canescens in SE Thailand and W Cambodia
E. z. interposita on the Malay Peninsula
E. z. saani on Sumatra
E. z. brunnescens on Borneo

Other authorities regard griseiloris synonym with tyrannula and merge sordida and interposita with the nominate zantholeuca.²

Has also been placed in Stachyris and Yuhina but recent studies suggest that this species is certainly not a Yuhina and not even a Babbler. It is now placed with the New World Vireos Vireonidae.^{1, 2}

Habitat

Found in different types of forest as broadleaf evergreen forest, secondary growth, light deciduous forest, mixed forest, moss forest, bamboo and also in upland heath and overgrown rubber plantations. Up to 3650 m in Bhutan.

Behaviour

Diet

Feeds on insects and their larvae, particulary on small caterpillars. Takes also berries, figs, flower nectar and occasionally seeds.
Usually found singly, sometimes in pairs or small groups. Less greagrious than other Yuhinas. Often in mixed flocks with other species (Warblers or small Babblers). Often seen hanging upside-down like a tit.

Breeding

Breeding season differs througout range, eg. from March to June in the Himalayas. The nest is a small craddle mad of grass stems, moss and dry leaves, placed 0.5 to 2m above the ground in a tree, bamboo or shrub. Lays 2 to 3 eggs.

Movements

Resident species with small local seasonal movements.²

References

Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2019. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
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
Cibois, Alice, Mikhail V. Kalyakin, Han Lian-Xian, and Eric Pasquet. 2002. "Molecular phylogenetics of babblers (Timaliidae): revaluation of the genera Yuhina and Stachyris." Journal of Avian Biology. 33 (4): 380-90.

List of references

Recommended Citation

BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) White-bellied Erpornis. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 25 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/White-bellied_Erpornis

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