Black-headed tailorbird facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black-headed tailorbird |
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| Black-headed tailorbird as shown on a Philippine postal stamp | |
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Cisticolidae |
| Genus: | Orthotomus |
| Species: |
O. nigriceps
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| Binomial name | |
| Orthotomus nigriceps Tweeddale, 1878
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| Synonyms | |
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The black-headed tailorbird (Orthotomus nigriceps) is a small songbird. It's also called the white-browed tailorbird. This bird belongs to the cisticola family. It was first described in 1877 by Arthur Hay.
This bird lives only in the southeastern Philippines. You can find it on the islands of Mindanao, Dinagat, and Siargao. It likes to live in thick undergrowth in lowland forests. These forests can be up to 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) high.
Black-headed tailorbirds look different as they grow up. Adults have a 'black' look. Younger birds have a 'mottled' (mixed color) look. Baby birds have a 'grey' look. People used to think these looks meant they were different species or sexes. But now we know it's just about their age.
These birds weigh about 8 to 14 grams (0.3 to 0.5 ounces). The average weight is about 10.3 grams. Males and females are about the same size. An adult bird is about 12 centimeters (4.7 inches) long.
Adults have dull black heads, necks, throats, and chests. They have a clear white stripe above their eye. They also have a white line under their eye and a white patch on their chin. Their lower chest and belly are dull grey. Their upper body and sides are olive-green. Their tail is a darker olive-green.
Younger birds have whitish chins, throats, and upper chests. These areas have light grey and black spots. Their tails are also shorter. Baby birds have plain grey chins, throats, and upper chests.
This bird is shy and hard to spot. You usually see them in pairs in the undergrowth. They eat small invertebrates, like insects. We don't know much about how they breed. The black-headed tailorbird is listed as "least concern" by the IUCN Red List. This means it's not currently in danger. Even though it lives in a small area, its population seems stable. People often think it's rare, but that might be because it's so good at hiding. There are no known threats to this bird.
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What's in a Name?
The black-headed tailorbird was officially named Orthotomus nigriceps in 1877. This was done by a Scottish bird expert named Arthur Hay. He studied a young male bird from Butuan, Mindanao.
The name of the bird's group, Orthotomus, comes from an old Greek word. It means 'to cut straight'. This might refer to how tailorbirds sew leaves together for their nests. The second part of its name, nigriceps, comes from Latin. Niger means 'black', and -ceps means '-headed'. So, it means 'black-headed'.
The International Ornithologists' Union calls it the black-headed tailorbird. It's also known as the white-browed tailorbird.
Different Kinds of Black-Headed Tailorbirds
The black-headed tailorbird has two types, or subspecies. These types look a little different in their belly, sides, and tail colors.
- O. n. nigriceps: This is the main type. It lives in eastern Mindanao.
- O. n. luminosus: This type lives on Dinagat and Siargao islands. It has a lighter, whitish or pale grey belly. Its sides are brighter yellow. Its undertail is more yellow, and its uppertail is olive-green.
The black-headed tailorbird is one of 13 species in the tailorbird group. It was once thought to be the same as the yellow-breasted and white-eared tailorbirds. This was because their calls sounded similar. But now we know they are different species. They are closely related, though. The black-headed tailorbird is closest to the white-eared tailorbird.
What Does It Look Like?
Black-headed tailorbirds are dark birds with a special head pattern. They weigh about 8 to 14 grams (0.3 to 0.5 ounces). The average weight is 10.3 grams. Males and females are about the same size. The average adult length is 12 centimeters (4.7 inches).
Adults have dull black heads, necks, throats, and chests. They have a clear white stripe above their eye. There's also a white line under their eye and a white patch on their chin. Sometimes the chin patch is missing. The black color fades into dull grey on their lower chest and belly.
Their upper body, sides, and undertail feathers are olive-green. Their tail is a darker olive-green. Their wing feathers are blackish with green edges. The area around their wrist is yellow. The edges of their wing feathers are brighter yellowish. Their eyes are chestnut-brown. Their legs are pale pink. The top part of their beak is blackish, and the bottom part is whitish.
Younger birds have whitish chins, throats, and upper chests. These areas have light grey and black spots. Their tails are also shorter. Baby birds have plain grey chins, throats, and upper chests.
You can tell this bird apart from the white-eared tailorbird. The black-headed tailorbird has a white stripe above its eye. It does not have a white spot near its ear. Its legs are also paler.
Bird Calls
The tailorbird's call is a long, stuttering trill. It starts fast and then slows down. It sounds like the yellow-breasted tailorbird's song. But it has a more "metallic ringing quality." Other calls include an anxious, falling ssiirrrrpppppp. They also make a ringing key-e ei. This second call is like the long-tailed bush warbler's song.
Where Do They Live?
The black-headed tailorbird lives only in the southeastern Philippines. It is found on the islands of Mindanao, Dinagat, and Siargao. On Mindanao, it lives in areas like Agusan, Surigao, and eastern Davao.
It lives in thick undergrowth in lowland forests. These forests can be up to 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) high. It does not migrate, meaning it stays in the same place. A study in 2021 found that this bird avoids farms. It prefers to live in nearby mountain forests. This suggests the bird avoids places changed by people.
How Are They Doing?
This bird is shy and hard to find. You usually see them in pairs in the undergrowth. They rarely come out into the open. They eat small invertebrates, like insects.
The black-headed tailorbird is listed as "least concern" by the IUCN Red List. This means it is not currently in danger. This is true even though it lives in a small area. Its population is thought to be stable. People often think it's uncommon or rare. But this might be because it's so good at hiding. In 1973, it was reported as "quite common" on Siargao and Dinagat. It lives in a special bird area called the Mindanao and Eastern Visayas Endemic Bird Area. There are no known threats to this bird.
