The Philippine tailorbird (Orthotomus castaneiceps), also known as the Visayan 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.

Philippine tailorbird
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Cisticolidae
Genus: Orthotomus
Species:
O. castaneiceps
Binomial name
Orthotomus castaneiceps
Walden, 1872

Description

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A 2009 Philippine stamp featuring the Philippine 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.

Food is presummably insects. Typically found in dense tangled undergowth.

Subspecies

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Two subspecies are recognized:

Ecology and behavior

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It is known to feed on small inverterates. Usually seen foraging in dense undergrowth, typically in pairs.

Breeding season believed to be at least in March to May. 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, nest is complex and sown together to form a pouch. Lays 2 to 3 eggs.[3]

Habitat and conservation status

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It lives in lowland forest edge and clearings and also agricultural land and any secondary growth with tangled undergroths. Found mostly below 600 meters above sea level. [4]

IUCN Red List has assessed this as least-concern as it is tolerant, if not more suited to degraded habitat. [5]

References

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  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.org. Retrieved 2024-09-02.
  3. ^ Madge, Steve; Kirwan, Guy M. (2020). "Visayan Tailorbird (Orthotomus castaneiceps), version 1.0". Birds of the World. doi:10.2173/bow.phitai1.01species_shared.bow.project_name. ISSN 2771-3105.
  4. ^ Allen, Desmond (2020). Birds of the Philippines. Barcelona: Lynx and Birdlife International Guides. pp. 310–311.
  5. ^ 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.