Przevalski's Nuthatch Sitta przewalskii Scientific name definitions

12·5 cm. A medium-small nuthatch with rich cinnamon underparts . In fresh plumage, crown , nape, side of upper mantle and rear side of neck are glossy black, upperparts , including tertials and upperwing-coverts, medium to dark grey-blue, median and greater coverts centred dark grey; primary coverts, alula and flight-feathers dark grey, inner primaries and secondaries fringed grey-blue, primaries P3-P5 fringed grey-blue inward of emargination; central tail feathers grey-blue (as upperparts), other rectrices blackish-grey, tipped medium grey, tips progressively broader towards outer feathers, T5 with small subterminal white spot on inner web, T6 with oblique white bar subterminally; lores, supercilium, ear-coverts and throat white, washed orange-buff, underparts rich cinnamon, side of breast darker cinnamon-orange, rear flanks rufous, undertail-coverts orange-rufous; in worn plumage, underparts paler and more patchy in colour; iris blackish; bill dark blue-grey, tip blackish; legs blue-grey. Sexes similar. Juvenile is much as adult but duller, especially on cap and underparts, with shorter, yellow-based bill.

C China in E & S Qinghai (Daban Shan S to Amdo Plateau and upper Huang He, and Nangqen area), W & SW Gansu (Huzu Bei Shan National Park, region SW of Xiahe and Minxian), N, C & W Sichuan (Songpan region, Qionglai Shan and around Litang) and extreme NE Tibet (NE of Qamdo). Also, separately recorded in SE Tibet (Kongbo, in Tsangpo Valley) and C Yunnan (Kunming), where status unknown (4 Harrap, S., and D. Quinn (1996). Tits, Nuthatches and Treecreepers. Christopher Helm, London. Close ).

Recorded in spruce (Picea) and fir (Abies) forest, also more open parkland; individual at Dzeng, in SE Tibet, in Apr was in a willow tree (Salix) far from any coniferous forest (possibly migrant or wanderer). Altitudinal range generally extends to near tree-line: recorded at 4270 m in Sichuan in Aug and c. 2250 m in Jun, in Tibet at 3500–4000 m in NE and 2895–3050 m in SE, and in Qinghai at 2590–2895 m.

Calls  include a muffled, mellow "chip" repeated in irregular series, somewhat reminiscent of a crossbill (Loxia); a loud, emphatic, whistled "dweep" (or "wheet", like that of S. europaea), sometimes uttered as a couplet, "dweep-eep"; a slightly nasal, querulous "que", usually repeated 3–5 times, similar to vocalizations of S. leucopsis, but with far less nasal quality; and thinner "pee-pee-pee-pee..." or "seet-seet-seet-seet..." notes on same pitch but slowing towards end of phrase. Loud, clear "ti-tüi ti-tüi ti-tüi..."  , with stress on second syllable, is possibly the song.

Not assessed. Usually treated as conspecific with S. leucopsis. Rare; presence confirmed at relatively few sites. Probably merits conservation status of Data-deficient or even Near-threatened; apparent rarity, however, may indicate that its categorization as Vulnerable is appropriate. Occurs in Jiuzhaigou Panda Reserve, in Songpan region of N Sichuan. Isolated records in SE Tibet, at Tse (in Dec) and at Dzeng (in Apr), both localities near Qabnag, at confluence of R Tsangpo and R Nyang Qu, might possibly refer to non-breeding visitors, the individual at Dzeng being in atypical habitat; both birds, however, had underparts much paler than those of typical members of this species, possibly indicating some introgression with S. leucopsis and thus making local origin plausible. Status in C Yunnan unknown; discovered at Kunming in Dec 1986, when parties of three and four individuals were recorded, but may perhaps be only a non-breeding visitor.