Rufous-headed Parrotbill Psittiparus bakeri Scientific name definitions

19–19.5 cm; male 35–38 g, female 33–36 g. Rather large parrotbill with relatively long bill. Adult has entire head to hindneck deep bright rufous (slightly buffier on lores), with narrow area of dull bluish bare skin on lores and patch behind eye; upperparts, including upperwing-coverts, olive-brown; flight-feathers and tertials blackish brown with cream-buff inner fringes, outer fringes similar in color to upperparts but with outer margins slightly warmer; uppertail dark brown, outer rectrices with warmer brown outer edges; throat and entire underparts warm buff (paler on throat center); iris brown, orbital skin and eyelids slate-blue to blue; maxilla dark brownish to blackish horn or horn-brown, mandible grayish, mouth slate-blue to bluish; legs dark slate-blue to gray. Sexes alike. Juvenile resembles adult, but head somewhat paler, upperparts washed rusty brown.

Until recently (1 King, B. and Robson, C. (2008). The taxonomic status of the three subspecies of Greater Rufous-headed Parrotbill Paradoxornis ruficeps. Forktail 24: 120–122. Close ) considered conspecific with White-breasted Parrotbill (Psittiparus ruficeps), but differs in its slightly darker upperparts (1); bright buff vs. buff-stained white underparts (2); overall larger size (effect size for bill on published data (1 King, B. and Robson, C. (2008). The taxonomic status of the three subspecies of Greater Rufous-headed Parrotbill Paradoxornis ruficeps. Forktail 24: 120–122. Close ) 1.68, score 1); and song a rhythmic phrase ending with long drawn-out whistles at about 2–3 kHz vs. a series of 4–6 descending whistles each about the same length and shape, typically in range 3–4.5 kHz, thus main differences being presence of long notes (3) and greater variety of notes (1). Birds from northern Laos and northern Vietnam (eastern Tonkin) are here recognized as the subspecies magnirostris (2 Dickinson, E. C., and L. Christidis, Editors (2014). The Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World. Fourth Edition. Volume 2. Aves Press, Eastbourne, UK. Close , 3 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 ), but differences (perhaps very slightly darker above, very marginally thicker bill) may be too slight to merit taxonomic recognition, with others treating the species as monotypic (e.g., 4 del Hoyo, J., and N. J. Collar (2016). HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 2: Passerines. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. Close ). Two subspecies recognized (3 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 ).

Southeastern Arunachal Pradesh, northeastern Indian states south of Brahmaputra River, and extreme northeastern Bangladesh, east to northern Myanmar and adjacent southern China (northwestern Yunnan). Also in southeastern and southern Myanmar, northwestern Thailand (Mae Moei National Park), and northern Laos and northern Vietnam (eastern Tonkin).

Insects, including small beetles (Coleoptera); also seeds, including those of cultivated crops, and berries. Clambers among small twigs and branches, often hanging upside-down. Forages in pairs or in small parties of 4–6 individuals; often associates with other species, particularly White-hooded Babbler (Gampsorhynchus rufulus)and Collared Babbler (Gampsorhynchus torquatus), in bird waves. Male highly territorial, and responds strongly to playback of recording of song.

Song a few irregular plodding notes followed by a rhythmic phrase ending with long drawn-out whistles at c. 2–3 kHz, e.g. “whit tu whit u wí’wííí wí’wúúúú” or “whit tu wi’wíííí wí’wúúúúú” and similar (eastern Tonkin), “whup chuk chip chíííí-chúú-wúúú” (northern Laos), and shorter “chipi-wííí yúú” with third note lower-pitched than second (eastern Arunachal Pradesh, in northeastern India). Contact calls a short, sharp “wic-wic-wic”, “wic-it” and the like; also emits loud metallic rattles and distinctive twanging “jhaowh”.

Season Apr–Oct in India. Nest a very neat, deep cup made from various grasses and some spider web, lined with fibrous threads of bamboo stems and other finer material, including ekra (Erianthus ravaneae) and similar (neatness and yellowness of nest conspicuous), sited 1–2 m above ground and fastened to spray of bamboo or placed in sapling or among reeds. Clutch 2–4 eggs, slightly glossy white to dull cream, variably (sometimes thinly and irregularly) marked with brown or dirty yellowish-brown spots, blotches and smears over lavender to very pale purple-gray undermarkings, or blue-gray with similar dark brown and reddish-brown markings (markings always more numerous at larger end), mean dimensions 21.5 mm × 16.7 mm; no information on duration of incubation and fledging periods; young fed by both sexes.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Scarce to uncommon throughout its large range. Few details available, but this species is suspected to be in decline as a result of continuing destruction and fragmentation of its habitat. A new breeding population has recently been discovered in northwestern Thailand, at Mae Moei National Park (near Myanmar border) (5 Round, P.D., Komolphalin, K., Limparungpatihanakij, W. and Pierce, A.J. (2014). Rufous-headed Parrotbill Paradoxornis bakeri and Pale-billed Parrotbill P. atrosuperciliaris in Thailand. BirdingASIA. 22: 32–36. Close ).