Heterophasia picaoides
The Long-tailed Sibia (Heterophasia picaoides) is a striking and active passerine belonging to the family Leiothrichidae, commonly known as the laughingthrushes and babblers. This slender bird measures 25-30 cm in length, with a significantly long, graduated tail contributing up to 15 cm of its total size. Its plumage is generally a muted greyish-brown on the upperparts and breast, transitioning to a warm rufous on the flanks and vent. Distinctive field marks include its prominent black wings...
Found primarily in subtropical and tropical moist montane broadleaf evergreen forests, as well as secondary growth, bamboo thickets, and forest edges, typically at elevations between 900 and 3000 meters.
An omnivorous species, its diet mainly consists of insects, such as beetles, caterpillars, and ants, supplemented with nectar, berries, and occasionally small seeds. Foraging primarily involves gleaning from foliage and sallying for aerial insects.
Long-tailed Sibias are highly diurnal and energetic birds, often observed foraging actively from dawn to dusk. They are frequently seen as a core component of noisy, mixed-species foraging flocks, particularly outside the breeding season, but may also form small conspecific groups. Their foraging...
The Long-tailed Sibia is a resident species distributed across a wide area of Southeast Asia and the Himalayas. Its range extends westward to the eastern Himalayas, including parts of Nepal, Bhutan, and northeastern India. Eastward, it is found throughout Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietna...
Least Concern
- The Long-tailed Sibia's impressive tail can account for almost half of its total body length, making it a standout feature. - It is a highly acrobatic forager, often hanging upside down or darting through foliage to catch insects. - This species is a frequent and vocal member of mixed-species f...