Red-billed leiothrix facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Red-billed leiothrix |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Leiothrix (bird)
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| Species: |
lutea
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The red-billed leiothrix (Leiothrix lutea) is a colorful bird that belongs to the Leiothrichidae family. It naturally lives in southern China and the Himalayas. Adult birds have bright red beaks and a soft yellow ring around their eyes. Their backs are a soft olive green. They have a bright yellow-orange throat and a yellow chin. Female birds are a bit less colorful than males. Young birds have black beaks.
This bird has also been brought to many other parts of the world. Small groups of these birds have lived in Japan since the 1980s after escaping from cages. The red-billed leiothrix is a popular cagebird. People who keep birds call it by different names like Pekin robin or Japanese nightingale. The names "Japanese nightingale" and "Japanese robin" are not quite right because the bird is not originally from Japan.
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About the Red-Billed Leiothrix
The red-billed leiothrix is about six inches long. That's about the length of a regular pencil! It is mostly olive green. It has a yellow throat that fades into orange on its chest. There is also a soft yellowish ring around its eye that reaches its beak.
The edges of its wing feathers are very colorful. They have bright yellow, orange, red, and black parts. Its tail is forked, meaning it splits at the end. The tail is olive brown and blackish at the tip. Its cheeks and the sides of its neck are a bluish-grey color.
Female birds are much paler than males. They do not have the red patch on their wings. This bird does not fly often, unless it is in open areas. It is a very active bird and sings beautifully. However, it is also very shy and hard to spot in the wild.
Where Red-Billed Leiothrix Birds Live
The red-billed leiothrix is usually found in countries like India, Bhutan, Nepal, Burma, and parts of Tibet. This bird lives in forests on hills. It can be found in all kinds of jungles. However, it likes pine forests with lots of bushes the most.
These birds have been seen at different heights. They live from areas near the sea up to about 7,500 feet high. In Japan, they prefer forests with fir trees and hemlock trees. These forests usually have a thick layer of bamboo plants underneath.
Red-Billed Leiothrix Around the World
The red-billed leiothrix was brought to the Hawaiian Islands in 1918. From there, it spread to almost all the islands with forests, except for Lanai. Its population on Oahu island dropped a lot in the 1960s. It also disappeared from Kauai. But now, it is common and growing on Oahu again.
Some red-billed leiothrix birds were released in Western Australia. However, they did not manage to settle there. This bird was also brought to Great Britain. People thought it did not become a permanent resident there. But, many sightings between 2020 and 2022 in southern England suggest some groups might have settled.
It was also introduced to France, where it now lives in several areas. It is also growing and spreading in Spain, especially from the Collserola Park. In Portugal, it has also been introduced. In Japan, groups of these birds that now live in the wild have been seen since the 1980s. They have settled in central and southwestern Japan. The bird is also found on the Mascarene island of Réunion.
The species has also been brought to Italy. There are three main groups of these birds there. These are in Tuscany and Liguria, Latium, and the Colli Euganei. There are also several other areas in Italy where these birds could spread.
What Red-Billed Leiothrix Birds Eat
This bird eats both plants and small animals. It enjoys fruits like strawberries, ripe papaya, and guavas. It also eats different kinds of insects like flies, snails, butterflies, and bees. It usually finds its food on leaves and dead wood. It often looks for food in the lower parts of plants.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
During most of the year, red-billed leiothrix birds can be found in groups of about ten to thirty birds. But when it's time to breed, the birds split off into pairs. They then become very protective of their own space.
These birds have a special song. It has short, strong notes that they repeat all year long. However, they sing even more often during the breeding season. This time usually lasts from early April until September. They are often found near areas with plenty of water. The male birds sing long, complex songs with many different sounds to try and attract a female.
The red-billed leiothrix builds an open cup-shaped nest. Their nests are made of dry leaves, moss, and lichen. They are not very well hidden. This is because hiding the nest is not the most important thing when they choose a spot. Several nests are found between April and June. They are usually placed within ten feet of the ground. Thick plants help protect the nests from predators.
The female leiothrix lays two to four eggs at a time. On average, they lay three eggs. The eggs are wide and blunt in shape. They have a slight shine on the outside. They are also a pale blue color. They have red-brown spots that go around the wider end of the eggs. When the baby birds hatch, they have bright red skin and a rich orange-red mouth.
Images for kids
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Chakkimorh, Himachal Pradesh, India
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Red-billed leiothrix, Maui, Hawaii
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Two at Chester Zoo, England
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Male at Chester Zoo, England
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Egg of L. l. calipyga MHNT
