The common tailorbird 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.
Region
South and Southeast Asia
Typical Environment
Occurs widely from the Indian subcontinent through parts of southern China and into mainland Southeast Asia. It thrives in open woodland, scrub, forest edges, bamboo thickets, agricultural lands, and urban parks and gardens. The species adapts well to human-altered habitats, provided there is dense shrub cover for nesting and foraging. It is generally absent from dense interior forests and very arid landscapes.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1800 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Famed for its ingenious nest, the common tailorbird pierces the edges of a large leaf and “sews” them together with plant fibers or spider silk to form a cradle for its nest. It is a familiar voice in Asian gardens, often revealed by its loud, repetitive calls despite staying hidden in foliage. Rudyard Kipling immortalized it as Darzee in The Jungle Book. Its long, cocked tail and rufous crown are distinctive field marks.
Male tailorbird
Nest showing the rivets
John Gould's engraving for Birds of Asia
Temperament
secretive but active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats over low, hopping flights
Social Behavior
Typically found singly or in pairs, maintaining small territories year-round. Pairs construct elaborate leaf-bound nests close to the ground or in shrubs using plant fibers and spider silk. Both sexes participate in nest building and care for the young.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Loud, sharp, and repetitive calls, often a series of chee-uk or tchit notes delivered from cover. The song is persistent and carries well, serving as the main clue to its presence.
