|
 |
| The Enigmatic Songbird of the High Mountainous Bamboo Forests – The Brown Parrotbill |
| The Brown Parrotbill is a dark brown Parrotbill
with a stout yellow bill and an arching black eyebrow. This Medium-sized, remarkable creature, adorned with eye-catching features, showcases a beautiful combination of chestnut-brown plumage with striking black patterns on its wings and tail. Moreover, its distinctive greyish-pink legs and sturdy pinkish-yellow beak only add to its appeal. and accompanied by unique melodies. It shows a strong affinity for high-elevation bamboo thickets, in which it moves about noisily in small flocks. It is also known as the Brown Suthora. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. …. ……. . .. … …… ………………………. ………….. ……………….. .. …. …. ……….. … …. ……….. … …. ………… ………….. ………… ………… ….. ………. …………. …….. ……………. …… …. …. ……….. … …. ……….. .. ………… ….. ………. …………. …….. …………. The Brown Parrotbill is a long grey-brown bird with a long tail and a characteristic small, yellowish, parrot-like bill. It is a medium sized bird reaching a length of only up to 20 to 21 cms and with the Male weighing 32 to 39 gms and Females weighing 31 to 32 gms. It has forehead to crown dark brown-grey with darker feather centers (fading to nape), giving slight mottled appearance; blackish supercilium; greyish eyering broken at front and rear; upperparts and upperwing coverts mostly warm dark brown; flight feathers and tertials with buff inner fringes, dull rufescent outer fringes (noticeably warmer than upperparts), outer fringes of primaries p4–p10 paler and slightly greyer towards tips (after the emargination); uppertail brown, with only little grey; cheek to head side brown with dull chestnut tinge or dark vinous-tinged brown, and with contrasting pinkish silver streaks or mottling; throat similar to head side, lower throat, and breast washed grey and with faint streaking on upper breast; belly buffy ash-grey to greyish cream; iris olive-yellow to pale yellowish white, stone grey or iron grey; orbital skin pale grey; bill pinkish yellow with lighter tip, carnelian yellow to pale horn-yellow, or dull yellow with yellow-brown base of lower mandible; legs dark leaden brown or greenish lead, claws greenish lead. Differs from very similar Three-Toed Parrotbill (Paradoxornis paradoxus) mainly in having darker crown, forehead not noticeably paler, blacker supercilium (particularly behind eye), darker and warmer upperparts, warmer-looking wings, browner tail, darker-looking head side with more contrasting pinkish silver streaks or mottling, paler throat, and greyer and paler underparts. Both the Sexes are alike. Juvenile is warmer washed overall than adult and more buff below, with lores and supercilium slightly duller and bill noticeably thinner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. …. ……. . .. … …… ………………………. ………….. ……………….. .. …. …. ……….. … …. ……….. … …. ………… ………….. ………… ………… ….. ………. …………. …….. ……………. …… …. …. ……….. … …. ……….. .. ………… ….. ………. …………. …….. …………. Native to the Central and Eastern Himalayas, including Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar and Nepal, the Brown Parrotbill thrives in dense bamboo forests situated at elevations ranging from 2,100 to 3,600 mtrs. With an affinity for thick foliage, these birds can often be observed foraging in shadowy underbrush or perched on bamboo branches while feeding on insects and seeds. Sedentary, but possibly subject to minor local movements in nonbreeding season. Periodic movements associated with bamboo die-off are likely. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. …. ……. . .. … …… ………………………. ………….. ……………….. .. …. …. ……….. … …. ……….. … …. ………… ………….. ………… ………… ….. ………. …………. …….. ……………. …… …. …. ……….. … …. ……….. .. ………… ….. ………. …………. …….. …………. It feeds on bamboo and bracken buds, moss and other vegetable matter, also beetles and other insects. It is found in often noisy parties in association with other Parrotbills and babblers. It has a slow, weak, and fluttering flight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. …. ……. . .. … …… ………………………. ………….. ……………….. .. …. …. ……….. … …. ……….. … …. ………… ………….. ………… ………… ….. ………. …………. …….. ……………. …… …. …. ……….. … …. ……….. .. ………… ….. ………. …………. …….. …………. What sets the Brown Parrotbill apart from other regional birds is its exceptional vocalization. They communicate daily through melodious calls resembling a parrot’s chatter, which explains their ‘Parrotbill’ moniker. Sings with clear, loud, rather high ii-wuu-iiew, ii wiuÂ’uu, or ii-wuu (last note clear, louder, and rising slightly), repeated after shortish intervals, or a quickly repeated whiiiu or whiiiuu; songs may be introduced by one to several low, short (often barely audible) t, it, ik, or ch notes or by a low, rolling chrrr; also utters high wee-ee or wee-hiu, repeated after clear intervals, and high-pitched wee-ee-ee-ee-eeÂ… Calls include shrill whining whi-whi-whi; low brrh; and harsh crackling chrrr, churrrh, and churrÂ’rrÂ’rr. . ………… ………… ….. ………………….. … ………… ….. ………. …… ………….. ………… ………… …. … … …… ………….. ………… ………… ….. ………………….. … ………… ….. ………. …… ………….. …………………….. … ………… ….. ………. …… ………….. ………… ………… …. … ……………. …… ……………. ……… ………… …. … ……………. …… ……………. ………… ….. ……………………………. …. ….. …… ………….. ………… ………… . Description Credit – Birds of the World (The Cornell Lab), Oiseaux, Birda, Animalia, Nepal Desk, Ogaclicks, Birds of India | Bird World, Bird Count India & Wiki. |
  |
|
