Tailorbird
Encyclopedia
Tailorbirds are small bird
s belonging to the genus Orthotomus often placed in the Old World warbler
family Sylviidae. However, recent research suggests they more likely belong in the Cisticolidae
and they are treated as such in Del Hoyo et al. (2006). One species, the Mountain Tailorbird (and therefore also its sister species Rufous-headed Tailorbird), is actually closer to an old world warbler genus Cettia
.
They occur in the Old World
tropics, principally in Asia
.
These warblers are usually brightly coloured, with green or grey upperparts and yellow white or grey underparts. 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.
Two species have been found to be only distantly related to Orthotomus and probably better regarded as a separate genus Artisornis
.:
Plus the two species likely to be moved to the Cettiidae
:
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
s belonging to the genus Orthotomus often placed in the Old World warbler
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...
family Sylviidae. However, recent research suggests they more likely belong in the Cisticolidae
Cisticolidae
The Cisticolidae family of small passerine birds is a group of about 110 warblers found mainly in warmer southern regions of the Old World. They are often included within the Old World warbler family Sylviidae....
and they are treated as such in Del Hoyo et al. (2006). One species, the Mountain Tailorbird (and therefore also its sister species Rufous-headed Tailorbird), is actually closer to an old world warbler genus Cettia
Cettia
Cettia is a genus of small insectivorous songbirds which make up the core of the newly recognized family Cettiidae. They were formerly placed in the Sylviidae, which at that time was a wastebin taxon for the warbler-like Sylvioidea. The range of this genus extends from Europe to the western Pacific...
.
They occur in the Old World
Old World
The Old World consists of those parts of the world known to classical antiquity and the European Middle Ages. It is used in the context of, and contrast with, the "New World" ....
tropics, principally in 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...
.
These warblers are usually brightly coloured, with green or grey upperparts and yellow white or grey underparts. 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
Wren
The wrens are passerine birds in the mainly New World family Troglodytidae. There are approximately 80 species of true wrens in approximately 20 genera....
. 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
Spider
Spiders are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs, and chelicerae with fangs that inject venom. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species diversity among all other groups of organisms...
's web to make a cradle in which the actual grass nest is built.
Species List
- Common TailorbirdCommon TailorbirdThe Common Tailorbird is a songbird found across tropical Asia. Popular for its nest made of leaves "sewn" together and immortalized by Rudyard Kipling in his Jungle Book, it is a common resident in urban gardens. Although shy birds that are usually hidden within vegetation, their loud calls are...
, Orthotomus sutorius - Dark-necked TailorbirdDark-necked TailorbirdThe Dark-necked Tailorbird is a songbird species. Formerly placed in the "Old World warbler" assemblage, it is now placed in the family Cisticolidae....
, Orthotomus atrogularis - Philippine TailorbirdPhilippine TailorbirdThe Philippine Tailorbird is a species of Old World warbler in the Sylviidae family. It is found only in the Philippines....
, Orthotomus castaneiceps - Rufous-fronted TailorbirdRufous-fronted TailorbirdThe Rufous-Fronted Tailorbird is a species of Old World warbler in the Sylviidae family.It is found only in the Philippines....
, Orthotomus frontalis - Grey-backed TailorbirdGrey-backed TailorbirdThe Grey-Backed Tailorbird is a species of Old World warbler in the Sylviidae family.It is found only in the Philippines.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 10 July 2007....
, Orthotomus derbianus - Rufous-tailed TailorbirdRufous-tailed TailorbirdThe Rufous-Tailed Tailorbird is a species of Old World warbler in the Sylviidae family.It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand....
, Orthotomus sericeus - Ashy TailorbirdAshy TailorbirdThe Ashy Tailorbird is a species of Old World warbler in the Sylviidae family.It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand, Vietnam....
, Orthotomus ruficeps - Olive-backed TailorbirdOlive-backed TailorbirdThe Olive-Backed Tailorbird is a species of Old World warbler in the Sylviidae family.It is endemic to Indonesia.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 10 July 2007....
, Orthotomus sepium - Yellow-breasted TailorbirdYellow-breasted TailorbirdThe Yellow-Breasted Tailorbird is a species of Old World warbler in the Sylviidae family.It is found only in the Philippines.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests....
, Orthotomus samarensis - White-browed Tailorbird, Orthotomus nigriceps
- White-eared TailorbirdWhite-eared TailorbirdThe White-Eared Tailorbird is a species of Old World warbler in the Sylviidae family.It is found only in the Philippines.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 10 July 2007....
, Orthotomus cinereiceps - Mountain TailorbirdMountain TailorbirdThe Mountain Tailorbird is a songbird species formerly placed in the "Old World warbler" assemblage with the other tailorbirds, but it actually seems to be one of the "pseudo-tailorbirds" which should be considered a genus Phyllergates in the family Cettiidae.It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan,...
, Orthotomus cucullatus - Rufous-headed TailorbirdRufous-headed TailorbirdThe Rufous-Headed Tailorbird is a species of Old World warbler in the Sylviidae family.It is found only in the Philippines....
, Orthotomus heterolaemus
Two species have been found to be only distantly related to Orthotomus and probably better regarded as a separate genus Artisornis
Artisornis
Artisornis is a genus of bird in the Cisticolidae family. It contains the following species:* Red-capped Forest Warbler, Artisornis metopias* Long-billed Tailorbird, Artisornis moreaui-References:...
.:
- African TailorbirdAfrican TailorbirdThe Red-capped Forest Warbler , also known as the African Tailorbird, is a songbird of the family Cisticolidae, formerly part of the "Old World warbler" assemblage. It is found in Mozambique and Tanzania. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.-References:* BirdLife...
, Artisornis metopias - Long-billed TailorbirdLong-billed TailorbirdThe Long-billed Forest Warbler , also known as the Long-billed Tailorbird, is a songbird of the family Cisticolidae, formerly part of the "Old World warbler" assemblage. It is found in Mozambique and Tanzania. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened...
, Artisornis moreaui
Plus the two species likely to be moved to the Cettiidae
Cettiidae
Cettiidae is a newly validated family of small insectivorous songbirds , formerly placed in the Old World warbler "wastebin" assemblage. It contains the typical bush-warblers and their relatives. As common name, cettiid warblers is usually used.Its members occur mainly in Asia and Africa, ranging...
:
- Mountain TailorbirdMountain TailorbirdThe Mountain Tailorbird is a songbird species formerly placed in the "Old World warbler" assemblage with the other tailorbirds, but it actually seems to be one of the "pseudo-tailorbirds" which should be considered a genus Phyllergates in the family Cettiidae.It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan,...
, Orthotomus/Phyllergates cucullatus - Rufous-headed TailorbirdRufous-headed TailorbirdThe Rufous-Headed Tailorbird is a species of Old World warbler in the Sylviidae family.It is found only in the Philippines....
, Orthotomus/Phyllergates heterolaemus