Tailorbird

Tailorbird
: Animalia : Chordata : Aves : Passeriformes : Sylviidae : Orthotomus
Species
O. metopias O. moreaui O. cuculatus O. sutorius O. heterolaemus O. atrogularis O. castaneiceps O. frontalis O. derbianus O. sericeus O. ruficeps O. sepium O. samarensis O. nigriceps O. cinereiceps

Tailorbirds are small birds belonging to the genus Orthotomus of the Old World warbler family Sylviidae. They occur in the Old World tropics, principally in Asia.

These warblers are usually brightly coloured, with green or grey uppperparts 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.

The species are:

• African Tailorbird , Orthotomus metopias
• Long-billed Tailorbird , Orthotomus moreaui
• Mountain Tailorbird , Orthotomus cuculatus
• Common Tailorbird, Orthotomus sutorius
• Rufous-headed Tailorbird , Orthotomus heterolaemus
• Dark-necked Tailorbird , Orthotomus atrogularis
• Philippine Tailorbird , Orthotomus castaneiceps
• Rufous-fronted Tailorbird , Orthotomus frontalis
• Grey-backed Tailorbird , Orthotomus derbianus
• Rufous-tailed Tailorbird , Orthotomus sericeus
• Ashy Tailorbird , Orthotomus ruficeps
• Olive-backed Tailorbird , Orthotomus sepium
• Yellow-breasted Tailorbird , Orthotomus samarensis
• White-browed Tailorbird , Orthotomus nigriceps
• White-eared Tailorbird , Orthotomus cinereiceps

References

• Warblers of Europe, Asia and North Africa by Baker, ISBN 0-7136-3971-7