White-browed Tailorbird Orthotomus nigriceps Scientific name definitions

12 cm; c. 7 g. A dark tailorbird with distinctive head pattern. Male has bold white supercilium extending from lores backwards, and white line beneath eye, contrasting with dull black head, throat, neck side and chest; usually a white chin patch, (variable sometimes lacking); upperparts olive-green, wing feathers blackish, edged with green, median and greater upperwing coverts edged with brighter yellowish olive, carpal area yellow; tail darker olive; black of hood merges with dull gray on lower breast and belly, belly with indistinct whitish feather tips; flanks and undertail coverts olive-green; iris chestnut; upper mandible blackish, lower mandible whitish; legs pale pinkish. Female is similar to male, except that chin, throat, breast, and belly are whitish, with dusky streaking on throat and breast. Juvenile undescribed; immature resembles female, but has more extensive whitish on side of head.

Distinguished from very similar White-eared Tailorbird (Orthotomus cinereiceps) mainly by head pattern (white supercilium, no white ear-spot) and pale legs.

See Yellow-breasted Tailorbird (Orthotomus samarensis). Two subspecies (1 Clements, J. F., P. C. Rasmussen, T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood (2023). The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2023. Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. Close ).

Dinagat, Siargao, and eastern Mindanao (Agusan, Surigao, eastern Davao), in southeastern Philippines.

Song a long, descending stuttering trill, slowing as it levels out; very similar to that of Yellow-breasted Tailorbird (Orthotomus samarensis) but with more metallic ringing quality. Also gives agitated, descending “ssiirrrrpppppp” and ringing “key-e ei,” the latter reminiscent of song of Long-tailed Bush Warbler (Locustella caudata).

Not gobally threatened. Restricted-range species: present in Mindanao and the Eastern Visayas EBA. Status uncertain; although generally considered rare or uncommon, its shy habits probably obscure its true status. In 1973 reported as being quite common on Siargao and on Dinagat; on latter island, at least 15 individuals encountered at Panamaon and Acoje during five-day period at end May/early June 1987.