Orthotomus sepium
The Olive-backed Tailorbird, Orthotomus sepium, is a diminutive and highly energetic passerine bird renowned for its extraordinary nest-building prowess. Averaging 11-13 cm in length and weighing a mere 6-10 grams, it is characterized by its dull olive-green upperparts, whitish to pale grey underparts, and a striking rufous-orange crown and forehead. Its long tail is often cocked upwards as it flits through dense vegetation, making the rufous cap and active demeanor key field marks for identi...
This species thrives in lowland evergreen and secondary forests, forest edges, scrub, gardens, and plantations, typically found from sea level up to 1,500 meters in elevation.
The diet of the Olive-backed Tailorbird consists primarily of small invertebrates, including caterpillars, beetles, ants, grasshoppers, and spiders, which it gleans actively from leaves and twigs.
Olive-backed Tailorbirds are diurnal and remarkably active, constantly flitting and hopping through dense foliage while foraging; they typically roost concealed within thick bushes. They are highly territorial, with both sexes vocally defending their patch, often engaging in complex duets that se...
The Olive-backed Tailorbird is a widespread resident species found throughout much of Southeast Asia. Its distribution spans across the Malay Peninsula, including southern Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia, and extends extensively across the Indonesian islands of Sumatra, Borneo, and Java. Further...
Least Concern
- The 'tailor' in its name comes from its incredible nest-building technique, where it literally stitches together leaves to create a hidden cradle for its young. - It uses fine plant fibers, spider silk, or even discarded human thread as 'suture material' to sew the edges of large, live leaves t...