Alternative name: Lilac Nuthatch
- Sitta solangiae
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.
Distribution
Very locally found in Vietnam, Hainan (southern China) and Laos.
A restricted-range species, threatened by deforestation.
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.
Habitat
Evergreen hill forest, also partially logged areas.
Occurs from 1450m to 2500m in Vietnam, 800m to 1500m in Hainan.
Behaviour
Diet
Feeds on insects.
Forages singly or in small groups, sometimes in mixed-species flocks.
Breeding
Adult feeding fledglings recorded in March and April. No other information about breeding.
Movements
A resident species.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2014. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.9., with updates to August 2014. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- 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. (2024) Yellow-billed Nuthatch. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 26 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Yellow-billed_Nuthatch
