Varied Tit
Sittiparus varius
Active and colorful inhabitant of temperate lowland and foothill forests. Combination of bright orange underparts, blue-gray wings, and white cheeks is unmistakable within its range; similar Chestnut-bellied Tit is is restricted to Taiwan. Tame and boisterous, often frequenting gardens, parks, and backyard feeders, particularly in the winter.
Identification
The varied tit is 12–14 cm (4.7–5.5 in) long and weighs 16–18 g (0.56–0.63 oz). The wing length is 6.0–7.8 cm (2.4–3.1 in). In the nominate race S. v. varius the crown, the bill, the throat, the upper breast and the nape are black. Forehead, face, and cheeks are white. Back, wings, and tail are bluish grey. Mantle, lower breast, belly and undertail coverts are chestnut coloured. From the crown to the nape runs a thin white central line. The feet are dark grey.<p>Its habitat consists of open mixed forests, in particular with the Japanese Castanopsis species Castanopsis cuspidata and Japanese larch, coniferous forests with Japanese yews, Cryptomeria (sugi), and pines as well as bamboo forests at mountain slopes and in river valleys.<p>The varied tit eats a mixed diet consisting of seeds and insects, namely caterpillars.<p>Its call consists of tiny tones which sounds like tzu….tzu….tzu…
Taxonomy
The varied tit was described by the Dutch zoologist Coenraad Jacob Temminck and the German ornithologist Hermann Schlegel in 1845 and given the binomial name Parus varius. Until the end of the twentieth century the varied tit was usually placed along with most of the other member of the tit family in the genus Parus. In 2005 the report of a molecular phylogenetic study that examined mitochondrial DNA sequences from members of the tit family, recommended including the varied tit along with around fifteen other species in the resurrected genus Poecile. The authors of a 2013 study that analysed both mitochondrial and nuclear sequences, suggested splitting Poecile and placing the varied tit and its sister taxon, the white-fronted tit in their own genus Sittiparus. The genus had originally been erected by the Belgium politician and naturalist Edmond de Sélys Longchamps in 1884 with the varied tit as the type species. This proposal was adopted by the International Ornithologists' Union.<p>Owston's tit (Sittiparus owstoni), the Iriomote tit (Sittiparus olivaceus) and the chestnut-bellied tit (Sittiparus castaneoventris) were formerly considered as subspecies of the varied tit, but were promoted to species status following the publication of a phylogenetic study in 2014.<p>A number of subspecies have been described, of which one has become extinct in the 20th century:
- Scientific name
- Sittiparus varius
- Authority
- (Temminck & Schlegel, 1847)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Paridae
- Genus
- Sittiparus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- unknown
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
African Hobby
Falco cuvierii
Dark, compact, medium-sized falcon. Blue-gray on the back, black on the head, and rufous below. The adults have faint or no streaking below, while immatures have broad streaks. Flight is fast, direct, and powerful. Most active at dawn and dusk. Local and uncommon in a wide variety of habitats, including forest, forest edge, woodland, and savanna. Sometimes hunts over very open habitats like grassland. Gives “kwe” and “keek” calls. Similar in coloration to Taita Falcon, but has a rufous throat and a longer tail. Separated from Eurasian Hobby by the completely rufous underparts.
Terek Sandpiper
Xenus cinereus
Unique smallish wader with stumpy bright orange legs and a noticeably upturned bill. Plumage gray overall with white belly, but in flight shows conspicuous white trailing edge to wings. Breeds in valley floodplains in tundra and taiga. In the non-breeding season, occurs singly or in flocks in varied wetland habitats, from fresh marshes to tidal mudflats, and often apart from other shorebirds. Feeds by dashing after insects and also by probing bill in mud, like a mini-godwit.
White-eared Sibia
Heterophasia auricularis
Elegant, long-tailed endemic songbird with a unique tufted white cheek. Gray overall, with darker wings and pale orange belly. White in wing and tail tips most apparent in flight. Typically inhabits montane forests but descends into foothills and lowlands at times. Often seen congregating in large numbers at flowering or fruiting trees; usually in smaller flocks otherwise. Song comprised of a series of quick whistled bursts followed by a longer, more drawn-out note.
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