Black-headed tailorbird
Species of songbird / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The black-headed tailorbird (Orthotomus nigriceps), also known as the white-browed tailorbird, is a species of songbird in the cisticola family, Cisticolidae. First formally described by the Scottish ornithologist Arthur Hay in 1877, it is endemic to the southeastern Philippines, where it is found on the islands of Mindanao, Dinagat, and Siargao. It inhabits dense undergrowth in lowland forests at elevations of up to 1,000 m (3,300 ft). Black-headed tailorbirds show three distinct phenotypes, which correspond to different stages of maturity: adults have a 'black' phenotype, immature birds have a 'mottled' phenotype, and juveniles have a 'grey' phenotype. These phenotypes were previously incorrectly thought to be related to sex or representing different species.
Black-headed tailorbird | |
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Black-headed tailorbird as shown on a Philippine postal stamp | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Passeriformes |
Family: | Cisticolidae |
Genus: | Orthotomus |
Species: | O. nigriceps |
Binomial name | |
Orthotomus nigriceps Tweeddale, 1878 | |
Synonyms[2] | |
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The body mass ranges from 8–14 g (0.28–0.49 oz), with an average of 10.3 g (0.36 oz), and is roughly equal in both males and females. The average adult length is 12 cm (4.7 in). Adults have dull black heads, necks, throats, and chests with a prominent white supercilium, line beneath the eye, and chin patch. The lower breast and belly are dull grey, while the upperparts, flanks, and undertail coverts are olive-green and the tail is darker olive-green. Immature birds have the chin, throat, and upper breast whitish with light grey and black mottling, as well as shorter tails. Juveniles have plain grey chins, throats, and upper breasts.
The species is elusive and most commonly seen in pairs in the undergrowth. It feeds on small invertebrates. Little is known of the species' breeding, but males with enlarged testicles have been seen in March, April, and May. The black-headed tailorbird is listed as being of least concern on the IUCN Red List despite its restricted range due to its presumed stable population. It is usually thought to be uncommon or rare, but this perception may be affected by its retiring nature. No threats to the species are known.