Sooty bushtit

Sooty bushtit
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Aegithalidae
Genus:	Aegithalos
Species:	A. fuliginosus
Binomial name
Aegithalos fuliginosus (Verreaux, 1869)

The sooty bushtit (Aegithalos fuliginosus), also known as the sooty tit, white-necklaced tit or white-necklaced bushtit, is a small passerine bird in the bushtit family Aegithalidae. It is endemic to central China, where it inhabits foothill and montane forests. Its overall browner plumage and white collar distinguish it from other small tits and bushtits. It is a social bird and forages in flocks, often with other bird species. ^[2]

Taxonomy

Illustration by Josephe Huët

The sooty bushtit was formally described by Jules Verreaux in 1869 under the current name Aegithalos fuliginosus. The generic name Aegithalos is a term used by Aristotle for some European tits, including the long-tailed tit. The specific epithet fuliginosus is Latin for "sooty", from the words fuligo and fuliginis, in reference to its dark brown coloration. ^[3]

Status and distribution

The sooty bushtit inhabits mostly forested mountainous areas in central China, specifically in Sichuan, southern Gansu, southern Shaanxi, and southwestern Hubei. It is listed as a least-concern species by the IUCN. ^[1]

References

1. BirdLife International (2017) [amended version of 2016 assessment]. "Aegithalos fuliginosus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2017 e.T22712024A111066721. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T22712024A111066721.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
2. "Sooty Tit Aegithalos fuliginosus". eBird. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
3. Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. pp.  165. ISBN   978-1-4081-2501-4.

External links

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   Data related to Aegithalos fuliginosus at Wikispecies
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   Media related to Aegithalos fuliginosus at Wikimedia Commons