- Sitta oenochlamys
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.
Distribution
Endemic to the Philippines.
Fairly common where suitable habitat remains.
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
Habitat
Pine and evergreen forest.
From lowlands up to 2600m, commonest at higher elevations.
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.
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
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Sulphur-billed Nuthatch. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 3 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Sulphur-billed_Nuthatch
