Vinous-throated parrotbill

Paradoxornis webbianus

(Photo from Natural Island, Yea! Taiwan)

Common name:
vinous-throated parrotbill (en); bico-de-papagaio-de-Webb (pt); paradoxornis de Webb (fr); picoloro de Webb (es); braunkopf-papageischnabel (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Paradoxornithidae

Range:
This species is found in throughout eastern China, and into Korea and extreme south-eastern Russia, as well as Taiwan. It has also been introduced in Italy, where feral populations are becoming established.

Size:
These birds are 11-12,5 cm long and weigh 7-12 g.

Habitat:
The vinous-throated parrotbill is found in various types of scrubland, also using marshes and swamps, moist tropical forests, second growths and plantation. They occur from sea level up to an altitude of 3.100 m.

Diet:
They feed mainly on seeds, flowers, fruits and buds, but also take insects such as grasshoppers and caterpillars.

Breeding:
These birds are monogamous and breed in April-August. The nest is built by both sexes, consisting of a cup made of grasses, reed strips, dry leaves, bamboo, bark, plant fibres, twigs and dry roots. It is lined with finer grasses, hairs and feathers and placed in a reed, bamboo, vine or fork in a scrub or small tree, up to 3 m above the ground. There the female lays 3-7 pale blue to turquoise eggs which are incubated by both parents for 13-15 days. The chicks are fed  by both parents and fledge 9-10 days after hatching. Each pair usually raises 2 broods per season.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as common and very widespread. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Grey-hooded parrotbill

Paradoxornis zappeyi

Photo by Jeff Blincow (Oriental Bird Images)

Common name:
grey-hooded parrotbill  (en); bico-de-papagaio-de-capuz (pt); paradoxornis de Zappey (fr); picoloro encapuchado (es); grauhauben-papageimeise (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Paradoxornithidae

Range:
This species is endemic to China, only being found in the mountains of south-central Sichuan and western Guizhou.

Size:
These birds are 12-13 cm long and weigh 10 g.

Habitat:
The grey-hooded parrotbill is found in scrublands and open coniferous forests, on exposed peaks and ridges near mountain tops, usually at altitudes of 2.350-3.450. They can also use bamboo thickets.

Diet:
They feed on insects, such as beetles, and seeds.

Breeding:
Grey-hooded parrotbills breed in April-July. The nest is build by both sexes, consisting of a bowl made of bamboo leaves, fibrous roots and moss, placed below the top of a bamboo leave, about 1 m above the ground. There the female lays 3-4 pale blue eggs which are incubated by both parents for about 14 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 13-14 days after hacthing.

Conservation:
IUCN status - VU (Vulnerable)
This species has a relatively large breeding range and a global population estimated at just 2.500-10.000 individuals. The population is suspected to be declining at a moderate rate, owing to continuing habitat fragmentation and degradation through forest exploitation for timber and clearance for cultivation and pasture. Increased tourism within its range has also lead to habitat destruction and disturbance. The creation of protected areas for the giant panda Ailuropoda melanoleuca may preserve some areas of suitable habitat for the grey-hooded parrotbill.

Reed parrotbill

Paradoxornis heudei

Photo by Coke Smith (Coke & Som Smith Photography)

Common name:
reed parrotbill (en); bico-de-papagaio-do-Yangtzé (pt); paradoxornis du Yangtsé (fr); picoloro del Yangtsé (es); Jangtsepapageimeise (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Paradoxornithidae


Range:
This Asian species occurs in two separate areas, one in north-eastern China, and across the border into Mongolia and Russia, and another in south-eastern China, along the Yangtze river.


Size:
These birds are 20-24 cm long and weigh 17-28 g.


Habitat:
These birds are found in reed beds, in freshwater lakes, rivers and streams. They occur from sea level up to an altitude of 800 m.


Diet:
Reed parrotbills mostly eat insects, but also seeds.


Breeding:
These birds nest in a cup-shaped nest, made of leaves and grasses, attached to the stalk of a reed. There the female lays 3-5 eggs, which are incubated for 12-13 days. The chicks fledge 12 days after hatching.


Conservation:
IUCN status - NT (Near-Threatened)
This species has a restricted breeding range and is described as locally common, but totally dependent on reedbeds. The reed parrotbill is likely to be declining throughout its range as a result of human encroachment, development and habitat degradation within reed bed habitats due to reed harvesting.

Bearded reedling

Panurus biarmicus

Photo by György Szimuly (Flickr)

Common name:

bearded reedling (en); chapim-de-bigodes (pt); panure à moustaches (fr); bigotudo (es); bartmeise (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Paradoxornithidae

Range:

This species is found in most of temperate Europe, from Spain, France and the United Kingdom all the way to Kazakhstan, then into western Mongolia and northern China.

Size:

The bearded reedling is 14-16 cm long and has a wingspan of 16-18 cm. They weigh up to 20 g.

Habitat:

They are mostly found in reedbeds and associated vegetation, namely bulrushes (Typha), along fresh or brackish water lakes, marshes, swamps and rivers. They are generally found at low altitudes, near sea-level, but in China they may occur at altitudes of up to 3.000 m.

Diet:

During winter the bearded reedling mostly subsists on the seeds of Phragmites, Typha and Juncus. In spring and summer they become almost exclusively carnivorous, taking insects such as mayflies, aphids and the larvae and pupae of various moths, but also spiders and snails.

Breeding:

This species breeds in loose colonies in reedbeds. Both male and female build the nest, a deep cup of reed leaves and other plants, lined with reed flower-heads and feathers, located deep amidst plant stalks, above water, or on land. The female lays 4-8 pale, streaked, and speckled eggs which are incubated by both parents for 10-14 days. The pair raises the chicks together, until fledging 12-15 days after hatching. Each pair may produce up to 3 clutches per year.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)

With a global population of 1,5-6 million and an extremely large breeding range, this species is not threatened. The overall population trend is difficult to determine as some populations are increasing and others decreasing, and populations are subject to considerable fluctuations.