Black-headed Parrotbill Psittiparus margaritae Scientific name definitions

15.5 cm. Has forehead to nape black , lores and eyering whitish, ear-coverts blackish-mottled gray, upperparts rufous-chestnut; upperwing and tail dark brown, primaries and secondaries with pale buffish-cream inner fringe, upperwing-coverts and outer fringes of remiges similar in color to upperparts; chin and throat white , sometimes some dark speckles on chin; underparts whitish; iris brown or brownish; bill short and deep-based, yellow to orange-yellow; legs gray or slate-brown. Differs from similar Gray-headed Parrotbill (Psittiparus gularis) in somewhat smaller size and shorter tail, all-black crown, blackish mottled ear-coverts, darker and more rufous-chestnut upperside, no black on throat, and whiter underparts. Sexes alike. Juvenile undescribed.

Formerly considered conspecific with Gray-headed Parrotbill (Psittiparus gularis). Monotypic.

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

Eastern Cambodia (southeastern Mondulkiri Province) and southern Vietnam (southern Annam).

Broadleaf evergreen forest, secondary growth, scrub bordering forest, grass and scrub in pine (Pinus) forest, bamboo. Recorded at c. 850–1500 m; only c. 850–900 m in Cambodia.

Sedentary.

No information on diet; thought to be similar to that of Gray-headed Parrotbill. Typically encountered in fast-moving flocks of 10–40 individuals outside breeding season, foraging from shrub level to canopy level .

Song  of two types, one of 3–4 notes as “jhu’jhu’jhu” or “jchew’jchew’jchew”, similar to that of Gray-headed Parrotbill but somewhat huskier and more slurred, but variable, sometimes a slightly clearer, slightly descending “eu’ju’jhu’jhu”, second song type as that of Gray-headed Parrotbill but perhaps a little more hurried; both types have also been heard simultaneously, may be a duet by pair-members. Harsh alarm call similar to that of Gray-headed Parrotbill.

No information.

Not globally threatened. Currently considered Vulnerable. Considered to be uncommon to locally fairly common within its restricted range.