Suthora ricketti
The Eye-ringed Parrotbill (Suthora ricketti) is a charming and distinctive passerine, a compact bird measuring approximately 11-12 cm, including its relatively long, graduated tail. Its most striking feature, lending it its common name, is the prominent, unbroken white eye-ring that starkly contrasts with its rufous-brown crown and greyish-olive cheeks. The upperparts are a warm olive-brown, transitioning to pinkish-cinnamon on the underparts, with richer rufous tones on the flanks. It posses...
This species primarily inhabits dense bamboo thickets, secondary growth, and undergrowth within broadleaf evergreen forests in submontane and montane regions, typically at elevations between 1200 and 2400 meters.
Primarily insectivorous, consuming small insects, larvae, and spiders, supplemented by seeds, particularly those of bamboo, and occasionally small berries. Foraging is done by gleaning from vegetation.
The Eye-ringed Parrotbill is a highly social species, typically observed in active, chattering flocks of 5-15 individuals, sometimes joining larger mixed-species foraging parties. They are resident and diurnal, spending their days actively foraging within dense bamboo and forest understory. Their...
The Eye-ringed Parrotbill is endemic to a specific region of Southeast Asia, primarily found in southern China and northern Vietnam. In China, its distribution spans across southern Sichuan, northeastern Yunnan, Guizhou, and northwestern Guangxi provinces. Its range extends southwards into northe...
Least Concern
- The Eye-ringed Parrotbill was once classified in the enigmatic family Paradoxornithidae, meaning 'paradoxical birds,' due to their unique features and taxonomic challenges. - Its common name 'parrotbill' refers to its stout, parrot-like bill, perfectly adapted for crushing seeds, especially the...