Tailorbirds are small birds, most belonging to the genus Orthotomus. While they were often placed in the Old World warbler family Sylviidae, recent research suggests they more likely belong in the Cisticolidae and they are treated as such in Del Hoyo et al.[2] One former species, the mountain tailorbird (and therefore also its sister species rufous-headed tailorbird), is actually closer to an old world warbler genus Cettia.[3]
| Tailorbird | |
|---|---|
| |
| Common tailorbirds (Orthotomus sutorius) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Cisticolidae |
| Genus: | Orthotomus Horsfield, 1821 |
| Type species | |
| Orthotomus sepium[1] Horsfield, 1821
| |
| Species | |
|
See text | |
They occur in the Old World tropics, principally in Asia.
These warblers are usually brightly colored, with green or grey upper parts and yellow white or grey under parts. They often have chestnut on the head.
Tailorbirds have short rounded wings, short tails, strong legs and long curved bills. The tail is typically held upright, like a wren. They are typically found in open woodland, scrub and gardens.
Tailorbirds get their name from the way their nest is constructed. The edges of a large leaf are pierced and sewn together with plant fibre or spider's web to make a cradle in which the actual grass nest is built.
Species
editThe genus contains 13 species:[4]
| Image | Common Name | Scientific Name | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Common tailorbird | Orthotomus sutorius | China, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, and Vietnam |
 |
Dark-necked tailorbird | Orthotomus atrogularis | Bangladesh, Northeast India, and Southeast Asia |
| Cambodian tailorbird | Orthotomus chaktomuk[5] | Cambodia | |
| Philippine tailorbird | Orthotomus castaneiceps | Philippines | |
| Trilling tailorbird | Orthotomus chloronotus | Philippines | |
| Rufous-fronted tailorbird | Orthotomus frontalis | eastern Philippines | |
| Grey-backed tailorbird | Orthotomus derbianus | Philippines (Palawan, Luzon, and Catanduanes) | |
 |
Rufous-tailed tailorbird | Orthotomus sericeus | Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand |
 |
Ashy tailorbird | Orthotomus ruficeps | Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam |
 |
Olive-backed tailorbird | Orthotomus sepium | Indonesia (Java, Madura Island, Bali and Lombok) |
| Yellow-breasted tailorbird | Orthotomus samarensis | Philippines | |
| Black-headed tailorbird | Orthotomus nigriceps | Philippines (Mindanao, Dinagat, and Siargao) | |
| White-eared tailorbird | Orthotomus cinereiceps | Philippines (Basilan and West Mindanao) |
Two species moved to the Cettiidae:
- Mountain tailorbird, Phyllergates cucullatus
- Rufous-headed tailorbird, Phyllergates heterolaemus
References
edit- ^ "Cisticolidae". aviansystematics.org. The Trust for Avian Systematics. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
- ^ Del Hoyo, J.; Elliot, D.; Christie A., eds. (2008). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 11: Old World Flycatchers to Old World Warblers. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. ISBN 978-84-96553-42-2.
- ^ Alström, Per; Ericson, P.G.P.; Olsson, U.; Sundberg, P. (2006). "Phylogeny and classification of the avian superfamily Sylvioidea". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 38 (2): 381–397. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2005.05.015. PMID 16054402.
- ^ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David, eds. (2017). "Grassbirds, Donacobius, Malagasy warblers, cisticolas & allies". World Bird List Version 7.3. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
- ^ Mahood, S. P.; et al. (2013). "A new species of lowland tailorbird (Passeriformes: Cisticolidae: Orthotomus ) from the Mekong floodplain of Cambodia" (PDF). Forktail. 29: 1–14.
Bibliography
edit- The New Student's Reference Work/Tailor-Bird
- Baker, Kevin. Warblers of Europe, Asia and North Africa. (2007). ISBN 0-7136-3971-7
- Ryan, Peter (2006). Family Cisticolidae (Cisticolas and allies). Pp. 378–492 in del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Christie, D.A. (editors). (2006). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 11. Old World Flycatchers to Old World Warblers. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. ISBN 978-84-96553-06-4