Common Tailorbird

Latin Name: 
Orthotomus sutorius
Category: 
Size: 
13cm
Description: 

Sexes alike. Olive-green above; rust-red fore-crown; buffy-white underbody; dark spot on throat sides, best seen in calling male; long, pointed tail, often held erect; central tail feathers about 5cm longer and pointed in breeding male. One of India’s best-known birds; usually in pairs together; rather common amidst habitation, but keeps to bushes in gardens; remains unseen even when at arm’s length, but very vocal; tail often cocked, carried almost to the back; clambers up into trees more than other related warblers.

Habitat: 
forest, cultivation, habitation.
Food: 
insects, flower nectar.
Distribution: 
subcontinent, to about 2,000m in outer Himalaya.
Call: 
Call Description: 
very vocal; loud familiar towit…towit; song is a rapid version of call, with slight change, loud chuvee…chuvee…chuvee, uttered for up to 7 minutes at a stretch; male sings on exposed perch.
National Status: