Visayan tailorbird

Visayan tailorbird
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Cisticolidae
Genus:	Orthotomus
Species:	O. castaneiceps
Binomial name
Orthotomus castaneiceps Walden, 1872

The Visayan tailorbird (Orthotomus castaneiceps), also known as the Philippine tailorbird or the chestnut-crowned tailorbird is a species of bird formerly placed in the "Old World warbler" assemblage, but now placed in the family Cisticolidae. It is native to the Philippines in Western Visayas. Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forests, tropical mangrove forests and secondary growth.

Description

A 2009 Philippine stamp featuring the Visayan tailorbird

EBird describes the bird as "A small, long-billed, long-tailed bird of dense tangled undergrowth in lowland forest. Has olive-green wings and tail, a pale belly, a gray back of the neck, a gray back, and a gray chest with streaks. Note rufous cap and orange legs. Somewhat similar to leaf-warblers, but has a longer bill and a rufous cap. Song consists of a medium-pitched, whistled melody, 'plik-wod plick-wee,' sometimes given in duet. Also gives downslurred nasal scolds." ^[2]

It was formerly conspecific with trilling tailorbird.

It is presumed to eat insects and it is typically found in dense tangled undergrowth.

Subspecies

Two subspecies are recognized: ^[3]

• O. c. castaneiceps Walden, 1872 – found on Bantayan Island, Panay (and proximate islands), Masbate and Ticao Island
• O. c. rabori Parkes, 1961 – found on Negros and possibly Cebu

Ecology and behavior

It is known to feed on small invertebrates and is usually seen foraging in dense undergrowth, typically in pairs.

The breeding season is believed to be at least from March to May. Their nest is typically placed 2 to 10 meters above the ground on the tip of a branch or leaf of a fern. Like all tailorbirds, the nest is complex and sown together to form a pouch. Two to three eggs are laid. ^[4]

Habitat and conservation status

It lives in lowland forest edges and clearings and also agricultural land and in secondary growth with tangled undergrowth. They are found mostly below 600 meters above sea level. ^[5]

IUCN Red List has assessed this as being of least concern as it is tolerant of, if not more suited to, degraded habitat. ^[6]

References

1. BirdLife International (2016). "Orthotomus castaneiceps". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T103778504A94434973. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T103778504A94434973.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
2. "Visayan Tailorbird - eBird". eBird . Retrieved 2024-09-02.
3. Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (February 2025). "Grassbirds, Donacobius, tetrakas, cisticolas, allies". IOC World Bird List Version 15.1. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
4. Madge, Steve; Kirwan, Guy M. (2020). "Visayan Tailorbird (Orthotomus castaneiceps), version 1.0" . Birds of the World. doi:10.2173/bow.phitai1.01. ISSN   2771-3105.
5. Allen, Desmond (2020). Birds of the Philippines. Barcelona: Lynx and Birdlife International Guides. pp. 310–311.
6. IUCN (2016-10-01). Orthotomus castaneiceps: BirdLife International: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T103778504A94434973 (Report). International Union for Conservation of Nature. doi:10.2305/iucn.uk.2016-3.rlts.t103778504a94434973.en.