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Fire-capped Tit Cephalopyrus flammiceps Scientific name definitions

Steve Madge
Version: 1.0 — Published March 4, 2020
Text last updated January 1, 2008

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Originally Appeared in

HBW Alive

Field Identification

8·5–9·5 cm; 7 g. Tiny olive-and-yellow passerine with slightly notched short tail (two-thirds of which concealed by long uppertail-coverts) and small, slightly decurved, narrowly conical and sharply pointed bill; in plumage superficially resembling various leaf-warblers (Phylloscopus). Male nominate race breeding (Feb–Jul) has varying amounts of bright orange or red on forecrown, chin and throat; remainder of head and upperparts yellowish-olive, brightest on rump; upperwing dark olive-brown, feathers edged pale yellowish (clear wingbars and pale tertial fringes when feathers fresh); tail blackish-brown, feathers fringed yellowish-green and tipped white (when fresh); lores and area around eye deep yellow, sometimes washed orange or reddish; underparts yellow, often quite bright, shading into bright orange or red of throat; iris brown to dark-brown; bill blackish, with some grey; legs dark blue-grey. Non-breeding male lacks reddish on crown, throat and face, resembles female but is brighter yellowish-olive above and yellower below, and has whiter throat. Female is duller than male, more greyish-olive on crown and nape, becoming more yellowish-olive on rump and uppertail-coverts, with greyish-white underparts washed pale yellow on belly and flanks; in breeding plumage becomes yellower on throat, face and breast, contrasting with off-white lower belly and ventral area. Juvenile resembles a dull female, having no yellow below and being very greyish-olive above, but by autumn many are quite bright yellow below (latter, however, possibly fresh-plumaged non-breeding males). Race olivaceus is darker green above than nominate, with yellow of underparts sullied olive, also male has smaller areas of orange on crown and throat.

Systematics History

Editor's Note: This article requires further editing work to merge existing content into the appropriate Subspecies sections. Please bear with us while this update takes place.

Geographical variation slight and clinal, E birds darkest; proposed race saturatus (Sikkim) included in olivaceus. Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies

SUBSPECIES

Cephalopyrus flammiceps flammiceps Scientific name definitions

Cephalopyrus flammiceps flammiceps
C. f. flammiceps +1

Distribution

N Pakistan (Gilgit) and Kashmir E to W Nepal; non-breeding NC India.
SUBSPECIES

Cephalopyrus flammiceps olivaceus Scientific name definitions

Cephalopyrus flammiceps olivaceus
C. f. olivaceus

Distribution

C Nepal E to Bhutan and NE India (Assam, Arunachal Pradesh), and SC and S China (S Ningxia, SE Gansu, S Shaanxi, SC Sichuan, SE Tibet, Yunnan, and W Guizhou); non-breeding in foothills, also (rarely) E Myanmar, NW Thailand and NW Laos.

Distribution

Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Habitat

Breeds in broadleaf mountain forest in W Himalayas, generally between 1800 m and 3000 m, favouring woodland of oak (Quercus), hazel (Corylus), elm (Ulmus) and walnut (Juglans) just below alpine coniferous zone; in Ladakh in alpine scrub, as well as in orchards and stands of poplars (Populus), during post-breeding dispersal ascending higher, up to 4000 m. In China breeds in fir (Abies), spruce (Picea) and rhododendron (Rhododendron) forests; on post-breeding dispersal, found at up to 4300 m in SE Tibet in Sept. On migration occurs also in gardens, parks, and willow (Salix) thickets by rivers and lakesides. In winter W population descends to plains of C India, where attracted to parks and gardens with stands of large trees in fruit or flower; non-breeding distribution of E populations much less known, but seems to be foothill forest, rather than plains.

Movement

Short-distance and altitudinal migrant, W race moving farthest, but distributional division of the two forms in Nepal obscure. Arrives on breeding grounds in W Himalayas from late Mar to mid-Apr, departing in late Aug through Sept, although few reported in autumn (lack of red on fresh-plumaged males at that time of year making them less noticeable); some may remain in foothills, but most spread out over plains of C India (mainly E Rajasthan, S Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh). E race (olivaceus) less well known, but seems to move to foothills of mountains for winter, although some stray farther; rare non-breeding visitor (small flocks) in E Myanmar (S Shan States), NW Thailand and NW Laos. Often said to occur as a vagrant in Afghanistan, but this remains unproven.

Diet and Foraging

Small invertebrates, chiefly insects; some vegetable material also taken, e.g. observed to eat flower buds and young leaves, and also to take juice or sap exuded from banyan (Ficus) leaves. Forages in middle and upper canopy of tall trees; on passage also often in riverine bushes. Forages in tit-like fashion in canopy, swinging upside-down to investigate leaf bunches, or climbs along underside of branches, peering into nooks and crannies. Although feeds with tit-like agility, seems to “walk” with deliberate gait rather like a tiny parrot (Psittacidae), sidling along twigs to pull in rolled leaves with bill, and then, while holding leaf securely underfoot, prises it open. Holds larger prey items in foot, extracting soft contents. Usually found in small parties, but considerable gatherings of c. 100 individuals also reported; flocks may gather on bare trees on hillsides, looking like tiny finches (Fringillidae). Also joins mixed-species flocks, especially outside breeding season.

Sounds and Vocal Behavior

Song, from top of tall tree, less often in flight, a prolonged series of short trills and twittering sounds, seemingly a couple of phrases repeated at different speeds and pitches, rising and falling for several minutes. Contact calls include soft and mellow “whitoo-whitoo”, high-pitched abrupt “tsit”, sometimes repeated; flocks in winter keep up persistent twittering, could be confused with Tibetan Serin (Serinus thibetanus) if not seen well.

Breeding

Season early Apr to Jun, sometimes later, as juvenile reported as being fed on 31st Aug in Ladakh. Monogamous, solitary nester. Male performs short song flight, but more often prefers to deliver song from very top of tall tree. Nest seemingly built entirely by female, male in close attendance and often singing, a cup of small rootlets and dry grass, lined with finer grasses and feathers, normally placed 6–12 m from ground (sometimes as low as 1 m) in hole in tree, preferentially old hole of woodpecker (Picidae) or barbet (Capitonidae), where possible, and if necessary bird will enlarge existing cavity in soft wood. Clutch 3–5 eggs, mean 4; incubation believed by female only, she sits tight and puffs herself up and hisses if potential predator attempts to enter hole, no information on duration of incubation period; chicks fed by both sexes, although only female removes faecal sacs, no information on fledging period.

Conservation Status

Conservation status on Birdlife LC Least Concern
Not globally threatened. Not well known; clearly much under-recorded, as it is difficult to locate among leaves of tall forest trees. Locally quite common in W Himalayas, especially Kashmir and Ladakh and in the Kulu and Simla districts of Himachal Pradesh, but decidedly scarce and somewhat irregular in appearance in Nepal; seen with regularity in Bhutan, notably in forest patches leading to the Pele La; in NE India, relatively few reports from N West Bengal or from hills flanking Brahmaputra valley in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. In China generally poorly known, but reasonably widespread in C & S mountains. In winter months, nominate race should be looked for in gatherings of birds in fruiting trees; even trees in gardens of Taj Mahal, at Agra, have attracted the occasional small party in recent years. With such an elusive species it is difficult to assess population levels, but its tolerance of patchy forest and forest clearings with flowering trees makes it less vulnerable than many other small forest birds in its range. Known to be present in several national parks.
Distribution of the Fire-capped Tit - Range Map
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  • Year-round
  • Migration
  • Breeding
  • Non-Breeding
Distribution of the Fire-capped Tit

eBird and Macaulay Library

Recommended Citation

Madge, S. (2020). Fire-capped Tit (Cephalopyrus flammiceps), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.fictit1.01
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