Yuhina nigrimenta
The Black-chinned Yuhina (*Yuhina nigrimenta*) is a diminutive and highly energetic songbird, a characteristic resident of montane forests across Asia. Averaging 11-13 cm in length and weighing 8-14 grams, this species is easily identified by its diagnostic glossy black chin and throat patch, contrasting with an otherwise greyish-brown plumage, paler underparts, and distinct white eye-ring. Its often slightly crested head, rufous flanks, and active demeanor further aid identification. Taxonom...
Inhabits subtropical and tropical moist montane forests, broadleaf evergreen forests, and secondary growth, typically at elevations between 800 and 2,500 meters.
Primarily insectivorous, consuming beetles, caterpillars, ants, and flies, supplemented by nectar from flowering trees and epiphytes, and small berries or fruits.
Black-chinned Yuhinas are exceptionally social birds, almost invariably found in active flocks of 10-30+ individuals, often joining larger mixed-species foraging parties. They exhibit a restless, acrobatic foraging style, gleaning insects, probing crevices, and siphoning nectar from flowers high ...
The Black-chinned Yuhina boasts a wide distribution across the Himalayan foothills and Southeast Asia. Its breeding range extends from northern India (Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, West Bengal) through Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. Further east, it is found throughout much of ...
Least Concern
- The Black-chinned Yuhina is a highly gregarious species, almost always seen in flocks, often exceeding 30 individuals. - They are frequently a core component of large, noisy mixed-species foraging flocks in Asian montane forests. - Their acrobatic foraging style allows them to hang upside down ...