29-3-2025 LEOPARD TRAILS LODGE, SRILANKA - COMMON TAILORBIRD (Orthotomus sutorius)

The common tailorbird, Orthotomus sutorius, is a diminutive yet vibrant songbird, cloaked in bright green upperparts contrasted with creamy underparts. With a size ranging from 10 to 14 centimeters and a weight between 6 to 10 grams, it is a small bird with a wren-like appearance, characterized by short rounded wings, a long and often upright tail, and a sharp, curved bill. The crown is a distinctive rust color, and both sexes are similar, though males may sport elongated central tail feathers during the breeding season.

To identify the common tailorbird, look for its rust-colored forehead and crown, and listen for its loud and distinctive cheeup-cheeup-cheeup call. The bird's long tail is typically held upright and can be quite animated. During vocalization, dark patches on the sides of the neck, caused by pigmented and bare skin, become visible. Juveniles are duller in color compared to adults.

This species thrives in a variety of environments, including open farmland, scrub, forest edges, and urban gardens. It is adept at navigating the dense undergrowth where it often remains concealed.

The common tailorbird is widely distributed across tropical Asia, with several recognized subspecies inhabiting South Asia and Southeast Asia. These range from the lowlands and highlands of Sri Lanka, across the Indian peninsula, to the Terai of Nepal, the hills of Northeast India, and further east to Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, China, and Java.

Tailorbirds are typically observed alone or in pairs, foraging low in vegetation or occasionally hopping on the ground. They are primarily insectivorous, feeding on beetles, bugs, and insects attracted to flowers. During the breeding season, pairs may roost side by side, and outside of this period, they roost alone.

The common tailorbird's song is a loud and repetitive cheeup-cheeup-cheeup, with variations across its range. Its calls are a key identifier, often revealing the bird's presence within its preferred dense habitats.

The breeding season aligns with the wet season, peaking from June to August in India. The tailorbird's nest is an architectural marvel, constructed from leaves sewn together with plant fiber or spider silk to form a cradle. The actual nest is a deep cup lined with soft materials, cleverly camouflaged by the outward-facing upper surfaces of leaves. The clutch typically consists of three eggs, with both parents involved in feeding and caring for the young.

Insects form the staple of the common tailorbird's diet. It is particularly drawn to beetles and bugs and is known to frequent the inflorescences of mango trees. It also consumes nectar from flowers such as Bombax and Salmalia.

26-3-2025 LEOPARD TRAILS LODGE, SRI LANKA - COMMON TAILORBIRD (Orthotomus sutorius)

The common tailorbird, Orthotomus sutorius, is a diminutive yet vibrant songbird, cloaked in bright green upperparts contrasted with creamy underparts. With a size ranging from 10 to 14 centimeters and a weight between 6 to 10 grams, it is a small bird with a wren-like appearance, characterized by short rounded wings, a long and often upright tail, and a sharp, curved bill. The crown is a distinctive rust color, and both sexes are similar, though males may sport elongated central tail feathers during the breeding season.

To identify the common tailorbird, look for its rust-colored forehead and crown, and listen for its loud and distinctive cheeup-cheeup-cheeup call. The bird's long tail is typically held upright and can be quite animated. During vocalization, dark patches on the sides of the neck, caused by pigmented and bare skin, become visible. Juveniles are duller in color compared to adults.

This species thrives in a variety of environments, including open farmland, scrub, forest edges, and urban gardens. It is adept at navigating the dense undergrowth where it often remains concealed.

The common tailorbird is widely distributed across tropical Asia, with several recognized subspecies inhabiting South Asia and Southeast Asia. These range from the lowlands and highlands of Sri Lanka, across the Indian peninsula, to the Terai of Nepal, the hills of Northeast India, and further east to Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, China, and Java.

25-3-2025 GAL OYA LODGE, SRI LANKA - COMMON TAILORBIRD (Orthotomus sutorius)

The common tailorbird, Orthotomus sutorius, is a diminutive yet vibrant songbird, cloaked in bright green upperparts contrasted with creamy underparts. With a size ranging from 10 to 14 centimeters and a weight between 6 to 10 grams, it is a small bird with a wren-like appearance, characterized by short rounded wings, a long and often upright tail, and a sharp, curved bill. The crown is a distinctive rust color, and both sexes are similar, though males may sport elongated central tail feathers during the breeding season.

To identify the common tailorbird, look for its rust-colored forehead and crown, and listen for its loud and distinctive cheeup-cheeup-cheeup call. The bird's long tail is typically held upright and can be quite animated. During vocalization, dark patches on the sides of the neck, caused by pigmented and bare skin, become visible. Juveniles are duller in color compared to adults.

This species thrives in a variety of environments, including open farmland, scrub, forest edges, and urban gardens. It is adept at navigating the dense undergrowth where it often remains concealed.

The common tailorbird is widely distributed across tropical Asia, with several recognized subspecies inhabiting South Asia and Southeast Asia. These range from the lowlands and highlands of Sri Lanka, across the Indian peninsula, to the Terai of Nepal, the hills of Northeast India, and further east to Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, China, and Java.

3-4-2025 GOATFELL LODGE, SRI LANKA - COMMON TAILORBIRD (Orthotomus sutorius)

The common tailorbird (Orthotomus sutorius) is a songbird found across tropical Asia. Popular for its nest made of leaves "sewn" together and immortalized by Rudyard Kipling as Darzee in his Jungle Book, it is a common resident in urban gardens. Although shy birds that are usually hidden within vegetation, their loud calls are familiar and give away their presence. They are distinctive in having a long upright tail, greenish upper body plumage and rust coloured forehead and crown. This passerine bird is typically found in open farmland, scrub, forest edges and gardens. Tailorbirds get their name from the way their nest is constructed. The edges of a large leaf are pierced and sewn together with plant fibre or spider silk to make a cradle in which the actual nest is built. Punjab tailor birds produce shiny red eggs, but became extinct around 1975 due to laying their eggs in fields used to grow fodder crops.

17-4-2023 KEN RIVERSIDE LODGE, INDIA - COMMON TAILORBIRD (Orthotomus sutorius)

 

The Common tailorbird (Orthotomus sutorius ) is a songbird found across tropical Asia. These birds are popular for their nest made of leaves "sewn" together and immortalized by Rudyard Kipling as Darzee in his Jungle Book. Although shy birds that are usually hidden within vegetation, their loud calls are familiar and give away their presence. Tailor birds in Punjab used to lay shiny red eggs but became extinct about 1975 because they lay eggs in fields used to grow fodder crops.

These are brightly colored birds, with bright green upperparts and creamy underparts. They have short rounded wings, a long tail, strong legs, and a sharp bill with a curved tip to the upper mandible. They are wren-like with a long upright tail that is often moved around. The crown is rufous and the upperparts are predominantly olive green. Their underside is creamy white. The sexes are identical, except that the male has long central tail feathers in the breeding season, although the reliability of sexing data accompanying museum specimens used in determining this sexual dimorphism has been questioned. Young birds are duller. When calling, the dark patches on the sides of the neck become visible. These are due to the dark pigmented and bare skin that is present in both sexes and sometimes gives the appearance of a dark gorget.

19-4-2024 KEN RIVERSIDE LODGE, INDIA - COMMON TAILORBIRD (Orthotomus sutorius)

The Common tailorbird (Orthotomus sutorius ) is a songbird found across tropical Asia. These birds are popular for their nest made of leaves "sewn" together and immortalized by Rudyard Kipling as Darzee in his Jungle Book. Although shy birds that are usually hidden within vegetation, their loud calls are familiar and give away their presence. Tailor birds in Punjab used to lay shiny red eggs but became extinct about 1975 because they lay eggs in fields used to grow fodder crops.

These are brightly colored birds, with bright green upperparts and creamy underparts. They have short rounded wings, a long tail, strong legs, and a sharp bill with a curved tip to the upper mandible. They are wren-like with a long upright tail that is often moved around. The crown is rufous and the upperparts are predominantly olive green. Their underside is creamy white. The sexes are identical, except that the male has long central tail feathers in the breeding season, although the reliability of sexing data accompanying museum specimens used in determining this sexual dimorphism has been questioned. Young birds are duller. When calling, the dark patches on the sides of the neck become visible. These are due to the dark pigmented and bare skin that is present in both sexes and sometimes gives the appearance of a dark gorget.