From Opus

Photo by James Eaton
Mang Den, Vietnam, March 2012

Alternative name: Lilac Nuthatch

Sitta solangiae

[edit] Identification

12.5 - 13.5cm. A medium-sized Nuthatch.

• Yellow bill with dark tip
• Yellow eyering and iris
• Black forecrown and postocular stripe
• Violet-blue upperparts
• Blackish-grey longer uppertail-coverts with violet-blue tips
• Off-white chin and throat
• Drab pale greyish underparts
• Grey legs

Sexes similar but female lacks black postocular stripe. Juveniles poorly known.

[edit] Distribution

Very locally found in Vietnam, Hainan (southern China) and Laos.
A restricted-range species, threatened by deforestation.

[edit] Taxonomy

Three subspecies recognized:

• S. s. solangiae in northern Vietnam
• S. s. chienfengensis on Hainan Island, southern China
• S. s. fortior on Da Lat Plateau in southern Vietnam

The population on Kon Tum Plateau - Lo Xo pass in northern Vietnam and adjacent Laos is of unknown subspecies.

[edit] Habitat

Evergreen hill forest, also partially logged areas.
Occurs from 1450m to 2500m in Vietnam, 800m to 1500m in Hainan.

[edit] Behaviour

Feeds on insects.
Forages singly or in small groups, sometimes in mixed-species flocks.
Adult feeding fledglings recorded in March and April. No other information about breeding.
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

• List of references

[edit] External Links