Birds Guide

Tailorbirds are small birds belonging to the genus Orthotomus of the Old World warbler family Sylviidae. They occur in the Old World tropics, principally in Asia.

These warblers are usually brightly coloured, with green or grey uppperparts and yellow white or grey underparts. They often have chestnut on the head.

Tailorbirds have short rounded wings, short tails, strong legs and long curved bills. The tail is typically held upright, like a wren. They are typically found in open woodland, scrub 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's web to make a cradle in which the actual grass nest is built.

The species are:

• African Tailorbird, Orthotomus metopias
  Long-billed Tailorbird, Orthotomus moreaui
  Mountain Tailorbird, Orthotomus cuculatus
  Common Tailorbird, Orthotomus sutorius
  Rufous-headed Tailorbird, Orthotomus heterolaemus
  Dark-necked Tailorbird, Orthotomus atrogularis
  Philippine Tailorbird, Orthotomus castaneiceps
  Rufous-fronted Tailorbird, Orthotomus frontalis
  Grey-backed Tailorbird, Orthotomus derbianus
  Rufous-tailed Tailorbird, Orthotomus sericeus
  Ashy Tailorbird, Orthotomus ruficeps
  Olive-backed Tailorbird, Orthotomus sepium
  Yellow-breasted Tailorbird, Orthotomus samarensis
  White-browed Tailorbird, Orthotomus nigriceps
  White-eared Tailorbird, Orthotomus cinereiceps

References

• Warblers of Europe, Asia and North Africa by Baker, ISBN 0-7136-3971-7