Spectacled Parrotbill Suthora conspicillata Scientific name definitions

14–15 cm; 8–9 g. A relatively small and long-tailed parrotbill, recalling the Vinous-throated Parrotbill (Suthora webbiana). Has forehead to nape dull chestnut-brown, merging into color of upperparts on centre of upper mantle; lores to cheek sooty-colored, offsetting prominent white eyering; upper­parts grayish olive-brown with buff tinge, becoming slightly buffier on uppertail-coverts; flight-feathers and tertials dark grayish-tinged brown with creamy-buff inner fringe, upper­wing-coverts and outer fringes of tertials and flight-feathers similar in color to upperparts, outer fringes becoming paler and more ashy-colored towards tips (after emargination) of all primaries except P9 and P10 (sometimes along most of length of outer fringe and extending to outer secondaries); tips of all remiges also paler and more ashy-colored; tail drab grayish-brown; ear-coverts and neck side vinous-brown, throat and upper breast pinkish-gray to pinkish-brown (paler pinkish-cream centre) with quite broad sooty-brown streaks, remainder of underparts similar to upperparts but paler and a little buffier; iris brown; bill yellow to yellowish-white; legs gray-brown. Sexes alike. Juvenile is darker and more uniform above than adult, with slightly more rufescent upperparts, uppertail and wings, has slightly less pronounced throat and breast streaking, slightly darker and warmer lower underparts, and considerably narrower bill. Subspecies rocki differs from nominate only in slightly thicker bill and apparently very slightly larger overall size.

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.

Subspecies rocki not very distinct (slightly thicker bill was greatly exaggerated in the text figure in type description), and supposedly paler plumage and lighter brown head not discernible on museum specimens examined; species may be better treated as monotypic. Two subspecies tentatively recognized.

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.

Mixed broadleaf scrub, dense prickly oak (Quercus) mixed with willows (Salix) and other trees, scrub and secondary growth in open forest and along its edge; sometimes reedbeds in or near forest or bamboo. Recorded at 1,000–3,300 m.

No information on diet. Usually in small flocks of up to 15 individuals, sometimes as many as 40, outside breeding season. Forages at low level in vegetation.

Song a very thin, high, piercing, penetrating series of 4–5 notes, “tsiu-tsiu-tsiu-tsiu”, “ssiu-ssiu-ssiu-ssiu” or “hsiu-hsiu-hsiu-hsiu”, slightly rising, repeated after medium to longish intervals. Typical calls varied, slightly buzzy, mechanical-sounding, e.g., “trrr-trrr-trrr” (rising, falling, rising); when alarmed, harsher, shriller “trrrh”, “trrrih”, “triii” or “ddrii” notes, doubled or in repetitive series, “triiii-triii-triii-triii-triii-triii…”; also “trrrh-trrrh-htsiih” (with thinner, even shriller end note) and “trrrh-tih” or “trrrh-triii” (with buzzier second note); contact calls include spaced “tip” notes.

Season June–August. Observation of food-carrying by both members of a pair suggests that young are fed by both sexes. No other information.

Not globally threatened. Not well known. Has rather limited range in central China, where generally considered to be rather uncommon. Recorded regularly at Wolong Nature Reserve, in central Sichuan, and Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve, in northern central Sichuan; present also in Foping Panda Reserve, in Shaanxi.