Alternative names: Webb's Parrotbill; Webb's Crowtit; Brown Crowtit; Rufous-headed Crowtit
- Suthora webbiana
Sinosuthora webbiana Paradoxornis webbianus
Identification
11 - 12.5cm (4.75") One of the smaller parrotbills, overall colour pinkish-brown with a tiny, conical bill. Crown and wings are rufous, grading into greyish-brown. Extensive variation among races: some show faint streaking on the throat and upper breast, others show rufous wing edges. Eye dark, no eye-ring. Bill grey or brown with paler tip, feet pinkish-grey.
Sexes similar. Juveniles are darker and more uniform above.
Similar Species
Similar to Brown-winged Parrotbill, Eye-ringed Parrotbill, and Ashy-throated Parrotbill, both of which are sometimes treated as races of Vinous-throated Parrotbill. The first two has a more chestnut crown, and fine, dark chestnut breast streaking; the third has a brownish-grey neck and cheeks.
Distribution
China, north to southeastern Siberia, south to northeastern Burma and northwestern Vietnam, as well as Korean Peninsula and Taiwan. An introduced population in northern Lombardy, Italy.
Common and widespread.
Taxonomy
Six subspecies recognized[1]:
- S. w. mantschurica in extreme southeast Russia (Ussuriland) and northeast China
- S. w. fulvicauda in east China and Korea
- S. w. suffusa in central and southeast China and extreme northern Vietnam
- S. w. webbiana in coastal east China
- S. w. elisabethae in extreme south China and north Vietnam
- S. w. bulomacha in Taiwan
This species was formerly placed in the genus Paradoxornis.
Habitat
Prefers low scrub and thickets in cultivated lands and forest edges, stays near the ground.
Behaviour
Fairly common in suitable habitat. Forages in flocks of 10-30 individuals, preferring low bushes and dense shrubs. Somewhat shy, but responds well to pishing.
Vocalisation
Flocks emit a fairly continual, high-pitched twittering.
Diet
The diet consists mostly of insects, small fruits and seeds.
References
- Clements, J. F., P. C. Rasmussen, T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, A. Spencer, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2023. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2023. Downloaded from https://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
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Vinous-throated Parrotbill. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 15 January 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Vinous-throated_Parrotbill
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
