Taiwan Hwamei Garrulax taewanus Scientific name definitions

21–24 cm. Crown is cold ochre-tinged buff with dark brown streaks, shading on mantle to buffish-grey with soft-edged irregular streaking; rest of upperparts greyish-tinged mid-brown, upperwing war­mer ochre-tinged brown, tail darkish brown with vague darker barring; lores, cheek and ear-coverts buffy brown with slight dappled effect; chin to upper breast dull ochrous-buff with narrow dark brown streaks, shading on lower breast, flanks, thighs and vent to plain greyish-buff and on belly to vague pale grey; iris greyish, orbital skin yellowish; bill and legs yellowish. Differs from very similar G. canorus in having narrower eyering, no postocular streak, coloration above greyer with broader, darker streaking, below pale dirty buff with duller flanks and vent, tail slightly longer. Sexes similar. Juvenile has less streaking on head and breast than adult.

• Chinese x Taiwan Hwamei (hybrid) Garrulax canorus x taewanus

Insects and seeds found in stomachs. Forages singly, in pairs or in small parties, on ground.

Songs rich and varied, quite high-pitched , resemble those of G. canorus but less complex, containing significantly fewer syllable types, fewer syllable changes, smaller syntax combinations and more syllable repeats per song.

Not globally threatened Currently considered Near Threatened. Fairly common to common. Formerly abundant, but has suffered from extensive habitat clearance in lower parts of elevational zone, coupled with considerable hunting and trapping pressure. Categorized as “Endangered” in a national red list. Now threatened by interbreeding with G. canorus; latter being imported in high volume into Taiwan for its singing abilities, and individuals, once discovered to be female, are usually released, thereby becoming available to breed with males of present species.