From Opus

Photo by martinuk
Mt.Victoria, Burma, February, 2011

Alternative name: Victoria Nuthatch

Sitta victoriae

[edit] Identification

11.5cm. A small nuthatch with a tiny, spike-like bill.

• Long white supercilium over thin black eyestripe
• Whitish patches on nape and sides of neck
• White face and underparts
• Chestnut rear border to ear-coverts
• Chestnut flanks and vent
• Blue-grey upperparts
• Small white patch on tail (usually concealed)

Photo by James Eaton
Mt.Victoria, Burma

Sexes similar. Juvenile has fainter orange-rufous on head-sides to flanks.

[edit] Similar species

Distinguished from White-tailed Nuthatch by head pattern and more contrasting underparts.

[edit] Distribution

Only known from Mount Victoria and nearby Mindat, western Burma.
An endangered restricted-range species. Suffers from habitat destruction.

[edit] Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species.
Formerly considered conspecific with White-tailed Nuthatch.

[edit] Habitat

Moist montanes, oak and rhododendron forests.
Occurs from 2300 to 3053m.

[edit] Behaviour

Feeds on small insects.
Forages on outer branches, mostly on oaks and rhododendrons. Singly, in pairs or occasionally in small flocks.
Breeding season probably March to April. The nest is placed in a tree cavity. Breeding otherwise poorly known.
A resident species.

[edit] References

1. 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
2. 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
3. Rasmussen, PC and JC Anderton. 2005. Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334672

• List of references

[edit] External Links