Wednesday 27 March 2019

Ashy Tailorbird (Orthotomus ruficeps)

OTHER NAMES: Red-headed Tailorbird
Latin Etymology: Orthotomus ("straight piece") ruficeps ("rufous headed")
Adult Ashy Tailorbird (subspecies O. r. cineraceus) at Sungei Buloh, Singapore - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Orthotomus ruficeps cineraceus
Weight: 7g  /  Length: 12cm  /  Wingspan: ?
ABSENT FROM UK IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Ashy Tailorbird is primarily a mangrove specialist, which fits with the multiple sightings I had of it at Sungei Buloh.  They are probably the most distinctive looking of the four species of tailorbird found in Singapore, with their grey plumage covering all but their head, unlike the rest which have pale chests and bellies.  They are fairly fidgety birds, rarely staying still for more than a few moments at a time.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Cisticolidae
Genus: Orthotomus
SUBSPECIES: O. r. cineraceus, O. r. baeus, O. r. concinnus, O. r. ruficeps, O. r. palliolatus, O. r. baweanus, O. r. borneoensis, O. r. cagayanensis

 - Sighting Locations -
SINGAPORE - A locally common resident.
 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Fairly common at Sungei Buloh

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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