Pere David's Tit Poecile davidi Scientific name definitions

12–13 cm; 10–12·5 g. Medium-sized, black-capped tit with fluffy white cheeks and cinnamon underparts . Has forehead to crown (down to bottom of eye) and nape black (often slightly glossy), side of neck rufous (forming half-collar); upperparts brown to brownish-olive, median and greater upper­wing-coverts dark brown, broadly fringed brownish-olive, alula and primary coverts dark brown, finely fringed pale buff, flight-feathers brown, finely fringed pale buffish-brown (slightly paler on edges of outer primaries); tail brown to brownish-olive; cheek to nape side white, feathers loose or fluffy; chin and throat sooty black, forming large dark bib, sides and lower edge of which rather indistinct; underparts cinnamon, slightly paler on centre of belly; in worn plumage, slightly paler brown on upperparts, and pale edges of flight-feathers usually abraded; iris dark brown or black; bill black or dark brownish-black; legs dull lead-grey to black. Sexes alike. Juvenile is as adult, but cheeks and ear-coverts washed yellowish or yellowish-buff, underparts paler or tinged yellowish, tail feathers have pointed tips.

C China: S Gansu S to S Sichuan, also S Shaanxi and W Hubei.

Mature mixed forest, usually including spruce (Picea), fir (Abies), pine (Pinus), birch (Betula), poplar (Populus), willow (Salix), alder (Alnus) and oak (Quercus), with shrub layer of bamboo, frequently in areas of red-barked birches. Occurs between 2135 m and 3400 m; similar habitat at slightly lower level in non-breeding season, e.g. recorded between 2200 m and 3050 m throughout winter in Sichuan.

Resident; some short-distance movements to slightly lower levels in non-breeding season.

Food not well known; presumably includes small invertebrates, larvae and seeds. Usually in pairs in breeding season, and in small groups of up to ten individuals in late summer and in non-breeding season. Agile, actively forages in upper and canopy levels of trees, also outer edges of middle levels and occasionally in shrubs; examines outer foliage and buds.

Calls include “sip” or “tsip”, “tis”, “psit” and harder “chit”, “sit” or “ssit”, also more drawn-out “chi-it-it” and a “tsip-tzee”; also “chic-a-dee”-type call given as song , “tsip-zee, tsip zee” or “tsip zee zee”.

Poorly known. Season at least May. Nest includes lichens and possibly moss, placed 4–10 m from ground in hole or cavity in decaying or rotting tree trunk or stump. Incubating female fed by male. No other information.

Not globally threatened. Restricted-range species: present in Central Sichuan Mountains EBA. Rare to locally not uncommon. Rather poorly known species. Relatively small range and rapid rate of forest clearance within it give cause for concern over the long-term future of this parid.