Black-breasted Parrotbill
Encyclopedia
The Black-breasted Parrotbill (Paradoxornis flavirostris) is a 19 cm long, large, thick-billed parrotbill
with black patches on the head-sides and throat. Formerly considered a distinct family
, the parrotbills are now placed with the typical warbler
s in the Sylviidae
(Jønsson & Fjeldså 2006).
The bird is more or less brown all over, with an extensive black area on upper breast and uniform rufous-buff remainder of underparts. The similar Spot-breasted Parrotbill
, a close relative, has arrow-shaped spotting on breast and pale buff underparts. The voice is a gruff howh, jeehw or jahw, the song a rhythmic series, aw jahw jahw jahw and uhwi uhwi uhwi uhwi. Alternatively, a higher-pitched wi chi'chi'chi'chi'chi, wi yi'yi'yi'yi'yi; wi'uwi-uwi-uwi wi chu-chu-chu is given.(BLI 2006)
Paradoxornis flavirostris is endemic to the India
n subcontinent and in modern times possibly the country of India
, where it is known from the plains and foothills of the Brahmaputra valley in Arunachal Pradesh
and Assam
. Historically, it was also recorded in Bangladesh
and possibly eastern Nepal
. It used to be a fairly widespread and locally common species. There are, however, recent records from only three locations, one in Arunachal Pradesh and two in Assam, at one of which it appears to be common. There are les than 10.000 mature individuals believed to remain in the wild.(BLI 2006)
Parrotbill
The parrotbills are a group of peculiar birds native to East and Southeast Asia, though feral populations are known from elsewhere. They are generally small, long-tailed birds which inhabit reedbeds and similar habitat. They feed mainly on seeds, e.g. of grasses, to which their bill, as the name...
with black patches on the head-sides and throat. Formerly considered a distinct family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
, the parrotbills are now placed with the typical warbler
Typical warbler
The typical warblers are small birds belonging to the genus Sylvia in the "Old World warbler" family Sylviidae. There are 28 species currently included in the genus, including five species formerly treated in the genus Parisoma, a treatment which left Sylvia paraphyletic...
s in the Sylviidae
Sylviidae
Sylviidae is a family of passerine birds that was part of an assemblage known as the Old World warblers. The family was formerly a wastebin taxon with over 400 species of bird in over 70 genera. The family was poorly defined with many characteristics shared with other families...
(Jønsson & Fjeldså 2006).
The bird is more or less brown all over, with an extensive black area on upper breast and uniform rufous-buff remainder of underparts. The similar Spot-breasted Parrotbill
Spot-breasted Parrotbill
The Spot-breasted Parrotbill is a species of bird in the Timaliidae family.It is found in Bangladesh, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.-References:...
, a close relative, has arrow-shaped spotting on breast and pale buff underparts. The voice is a gruff howh, jeehw or jahw, the song a rhythmic series, aw jahw jahw jahw and uhwi uhwi uhwi uhwi. Alternatively, a higher-pitched wi chi'chi'chi'chi'chi, wi yi'yi'yi'yi'yi; wi'uwi-uwi-uwi wi chu-chu-chu is given.(BLI 2006)
Paradoxornis flavirostris is endemic to the India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n subcontinent and in modern times possibly the country of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, where it is known from the plains and foothills of the Brahmaputra valley in Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh is a state of India, located in the far northeast. It borders the states of Assam and Nagaland to the south, and shares international borders with Burma in the east, Bhutan in the west, and the People's Republic of China in the north. The majority of the territory is claimed by...
and Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
. Historically, it was also recorded in Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
and possibly eastern Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
. It used to be a fairly widespread and locally common species. There are, however, recent records from only three locations, one in Arunachal Pradesh and two in Assam, at one of which it appears to be common. There are les than 10.000 mature individuals believed to remain in the wild.(BLI 2006)