Gray-headed Parrotbill Psittiparus gularis Scientific name definitions

15.5–18.5 cm; male 27–30 g, female 30.5–34 g, male to 37 g and female to 35 g (fokiensis), female 26–28 g (hainanus). Nominate subspecies has faintly brown-tinged mid-gray crown and nape, black forehead and black lateral crownstripe, latter continuing as long supercilium from behind eye, whitish lores (mixed with gray) and area around eye, and pale ash-gray head side with whiter cheek; upperparts rufous-brown; wing feathers dark brown with inner webs still darker, primaries and secondaries with buffish-cream inner fringe, upperwing-coverts and outer fringes of remiges similar in color to upperparts, slightly brighter on outer fringes of tertials to primaries, outer fringes of primaries P3-P10 slightly paler still towards tips (after emargination); tail dark brown, narrowly fringed along outer webs with an olive-tinged shade of upperpart color; throat white at side and with sooty-black center (chin slightly grayer), underparts buffish-cream; iris red-brown or brown, orbital skin white; bill short and deep-based, rather bright orange-yellow; legs plumbeous-gray or slate-brown to dull green or greenish-horn, claws yellowish-horn, pads of feet white. Sexes alike. Juvenile has much brighter rufescent upperside than adult, less pure grayish crown, less well-defined blackish throat center, buffier-tinged underparts, narrower bill, rounded first primary, and narrower tail feathers. Subspecies transfluvialis tends to be more buffish below than nominate; rasus is smaller, and lacks black on throat; fokiensis is larger and heavier than nominate, with gray of head (particularly head side) more slaty, underparts slightly whiter; laotianus is only slightly larger than nominate, with plumage similar to previous but gray of crown and head side slightly paler, underside a little paler; hainanus is slightly smaller than nominate, has strong rufous-chestnut wash on upperside, and head and underpart coloration similar to last.

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.

Formerly considered conspecific with Black-headed Parrotbill (Psittiparus margaritae). Six subspecies recognized.

• Gray-headed x Black-headed Parrotbill (hybrid) Psittiparus gularis x margaritae

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.

Broadleaf evergreen forest, secondary growth, scrub bordering forest, also bamboo, grass and scrub in pine (Pinus) forest. Mostly at 610–2100 m in Indian subcontinent and Myanmar (610–1830 m in Bhutan and Myanmar), locally down to 300 m in northeastern India, rarely to 2400 m in India; has been found only at 1200–1830 m in Thailand; 1000–1500 m in Laos and Vietnam, and 450–1850 m in China.

Vegetable matter, including chestnuts, buds, seeds; also insects and their larvae. Found in parties mostly of 6–8 individuals, sometimes up to 30 or more; regularly joins babblers (Timaliidae) and smaller birds (mainly passerines) in bird waves. Much more arboreal than most parrotbills, often feeding in treetops, though also descending to undergrowth, and occasionally to ground itself. Picks up buds and carries them to a convenient twig, where they are held under the feet and picked to pieces in manner of a tit (Paridae).

Song of subspecies transfluvialis and laotianus of two types, one a clear loud, quite shrill “eu’chu’chu” or “eu-chu’chu’chu”, sometimes “eu’chu’chu-cho” (with lower-pitched “cho”), repeated after fairly short intervals, the other type a quite high, plaintive, stressed “wi-wuu” (occasionally 3–4 notes, as e.g. “wi wuu wuu wuu”); both types have been heard simultaneously, may represent a duet by partners. Calls (all subspecies) with short, quite harsh, rather slurred “jiow” or “jieu” and less harsh “djer” notes, sometimes mixed with harsh scolding “chit’it’it’it’it’it’it’it…” like that of a scimitar-babbler (Pomatorhinus); also soft “chip” notes, and a very soft, short, rattled “chrrrat”.

Feb–Jul. Nest a beautiful, very neat, compact cup-shaped structure, sometimes with broad, bulging sides, made from grasses, strips of bamboo leaves (or whole leaves), leaf skeletons and similar material, plastered with cobwebs and spider cocoons, wool and other soft material, lined with fine grass stems, rootlets, shreds of grass bark and the like, external diameter c. 10 cm, height 6.3–8.9 cm, internal diameter 6.1–6.3 cm, depth 3–5.7 cm; situated typically 2–3 m above ground, sometimes lower or higher (up to 9 m), in sapling, forked branch of medium-sized tree, reeds, tall grass, bamboo clump or bush. Clutch 2–4 eggs, smooth and slightly glossy or unglossy, color variable, white to greenish-white, gray, yellowish or reddish, marked (sometimes quite faintly) with brown to pale yellow, burnt sienna or reddish spots, speckles, streaks, lines, blotches etc. over gray to dull purple, lilac or neutral-tint undermarkings, dimensions 20.3–22.5 × 15.5–18 mm (India and China), c. 19.8 × 15.7 mm (transfluvialis series from northern Chin Hills, in western Myanmar). No other information.