Melanochlora sultanea
The Sultan Tit (*Melanochlora sultanea*) is a strikingly ornamental passerine, known as the largest member of the tit family (Paridae). Measuring about 17-18 cm (7 inches) in length and weighing 21-25 grams, it is instantly recognizable by its prominent, shaggy golden-yellow crest, which gives the species its regal name. Males exhibit glossy black upperparts contrasting with vivid yellow underparts, while females are slightly duller, often with an olive wash on the black areas and a shorter c...
These striking birds inhabit subtropical and tropical moist broadleaf forests, evergreen forests, and bamboo thickets, predominantly found in foothills and low to moderate elevations up typically up to 1,800 meters. They thrive in areas with dense tree cover and a rich understory, occasionally ve...
The Sultan Tit's diet primarily consists of insects and their larvae, including caterpillars, beetles, and spiders, which they glean from foliage and bark. They also supplement their insectivorous diet with small fruits, seeds, and occasionally nectar.
Sultan Tits are diurnal and highly active, spending their days foraging energetically in the forest canopy and mid-story. They are acrobatic gleaners, deftly searching leaves, branches, and bark for insects, often hanging upside down to reach prey. Outside the breeding season, they frequently joi...
The Sultan Tit boasts a broad distribution across the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, inhabiting countries from the Himalayan foothills eastward. Its breeding range extends from Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Northeast India, through Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam, reachin...
Least Concern
- The Sultan Tit is the largest species within the family Paridae, making it a true giant among tits. - Its scientific name, *Melanochlora sultanea*, directly translates to "black and green sultan," though its primary colors are black and yellow, referring to its regal appearance. - It is the sol...