Black-headed sibia

Heterophasia desgodinsi

Photo by Hung Do Manh (Oriental Bird Images)

Common name:
black-headed sibia (en); sibia-de-cabeça-preta (pt); sibia de Desgodins (fr); sibia cabecinegra (es); schwarzkopftimalie (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Timaliidae

Range:
This species is found in in northern Myanmar, southern China, Laos and Vietnam.

Size:
These birds are 21,5-24,5 cm long.

Habitat:
The black-headed sibia is found tropical and sub-tropical moist mountain forests, at altitudes of 800-2.900 m.

Diet:
They forage on the forest canopy, or occasionally near the ground, taking insects, grubs, berries and also nectar.

Breeding:
Black-headed sibias breed in April-August. The nest is made of plant fibres and placed in a fork in a tree. The female lays 1-3 blue eggs with reddish-brown blotches, which she incubates alone for 14-16 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 15-17 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range and is described as common in China, but uncommon in Vietnam. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing destruction and fragmentation of their forest habitats.