Seicercus
Encyclopedia
Seicercus is a genus of Old World warbler
formerly in the Sylviidae
family but now placed in Phylloscopidae
. The genus is distributed in eastern and southern Asia
from northern China
to Timor
in the Lesser Sundas. Many of the more northerly species are migratory
, breeding in temperate climates and wintering in the tropics; others are attitudinal migrants, moving down from the mountains in the winter. A few species are migratory over part of their range and resident in others.
The Seicercus warblers are small passerines that range in size from 9.5–12 cm in length and weigh around 4-9 g. All species have green wings and yellow bellies, most have yellow breasts as well. The head is either grey, green or buff/brown, and all species have stripes on the crown or face as well as a yellow or white eye-ring. The sexes are similar to each other.
Seicercus warblers feed on insects, usually obtained by gleaning and short sally flights. A few species associate with mixed-species feeding flock
s. Different species feed in different parts of the forest, some, like the Chestnut-crowned Warbler
feed in the canopy whereas the Sunda Warbler
prefers the understory and lower canopy.
It contains the following species:
Old World warbler
The "Old World Warblers" is the name used to describe a large group of birds formerly grouped together in the bird family Sylviidae. The family held over 400 species in over 70 genera, and were the source of much taxonomic confusion. Two families were split out initially, the cisticolas into...
formerly in the Sylviidae
Sylviidae
Sylviidae is a family of passerine birds that was part of an assemblage known as the Old World warblers. The family was formerly a wastebin taxon with over 400 species of bird in over 70 genera. The family was poorly defined with many characteristics shared with other families...
family but now placed in Phylloscopidae
Phylloscopidae
Phylloscopidae is a newly described family of small insectivorous birds formerly placed in the Old World warbler family. Its members occur in Eurasia, ranging into Wallacea and Africa...
. The genus is distributed in eastern and southern Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
from northern China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
to Timor
Timor
Timor is an island at the southern end of Maritime Southeast Asia, north of the Timor Sea. It is divided between the independent state of East Timor, and West Timor, belonging to the Indonesian province of East Nusa Tenggara. The island's surface is 30,777 square kilometres...
in the Lesser Sundas. Many of the more northerly species are migratory
Bird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
, breeding in temperate climates and wintering in the tropics; others are attitudinal migrants, moving down from the mountains in the winter. A few species are migratory over part of their range and resident in others.
The Seicercus warblers are small passerines that range in size from 9.5–12 cm in length and weigh around 4-9 g. All species have green wings and yellow bellies, most have yellow breasts as well. The head is either grey, green or buff/brown, and all species have stripes on the crown or face as well as a yellow or white eye-ring. The sexes are similar to each other.
Seicercus warblers feed on insects, usually obtained by gleaning and short sally flights. A few species associate with mixed-species feeding flock
Mixed-species feeding flock
A mixed-species feeding flock, also termed a mixed-species foraging flock, mixed hunting party or informally bird wave, is a flock of usually insectivorous birds of different species, that join each other and move together while foraging...
s. Different species feed in different parts of the forest, some, like the Chestnut-crowned Warbler
Chestnut-crowned Warbler
The Chestnut-crowned Warbler is a species of leaf warbler . It was formerly included in the "Old World warbler" assemblage....
feed in the canopy whereas the Sunda Warbler
Sunda Warbler
The Sunda Warbler is a species of Old World warbler in the Phylloscopidae family.It is found only in Indonesia.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 10 July 2007....
prefers the understory and lower canopy.
It contains the following species:
- White-spectacled WarblerWhite-spectacled WarblerThe White-spectacled Warbler is a species of leaf warbler . It was formerly included in the "Old World warbler" assemblage.It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, and Vietnam...
(Seicercus affinis) - Green-crowned WarblerGreen-crowned WarblerThe Green-crowned Warbler is a species of leaf warbler . It was formerly included in the "Old World warbler" assemblage....
(Seicercus burkii) - Chestnut-crowned WarblerChestnut-crowned WarblerThe Chestnut-crowned Warbler is a species of leaf warbler . It was formerly included in the "Old World warbler" assemblage....
(Seicercus castaniceps) - Sunda WarblerSunda WarblerThe Sunda Warbler is a species of Old World warbler in the Phylloscopidae family.It is found only in Indonesia.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 10 July 2007....
(Seicercus grammiceps) - Yellow-breasted WarblerYellow-breasted WarblerThe Yellow-breasted Warbler is a species of Old World warbler in the Phylloscopidae family.It is found in Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines....
(Seicercus montis) - Martens's WarblerMartens's WarblerThe Omei Warbler , also known as Martens's Warbler, is a species of Old World warbler in the Phylloscopidae family. It is found in China and Myanmar. Its natural habitats are temperate forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.-References:* BirdLife International 2006. . ...
(Seicercus omeiensis) - Grey-cheeked WarblerGrey-cheeked WarblerThe Grey-cheeked Warbler is a species of leaf warbler . It was formerly included in the "Old World warbler" assemblage....
(Seicercus poliogenys) - Plain-tailed WarblerPlain-tailed WarblerThe Plain-tailed Warbler, or Alström' Warbler is a species of Old World warbler in the Phylloscopidae family...
(Seicercus soror) - Grey-crowned WarblerGrey-crowned WarblerThe Grey-Crowned Warbler is a species of Old World warbler in the Phylloscopidae family.It is found in China, India, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam....
(Seicercus tephrocephalus) - Bianchi's WarblerBianchi's WarblerBianchi's Warbler is a species of leaf warbler . It was formerly included in the "Old World warbler" assemblage.It is found in China, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam...
(Seicercus valentini) - Whistler's WarblerWhistler's WarblerWhistler's Warbler is a species of leaf warbler . It was formerly included in the "Old World warbler" assemblage....
(Seicercus whistleri)