The grey-headed parrotbill is a parrotbill in the family Sylviidae and is found in eastern Asia from the Himalayas to Indochina and Hainan.
Region
Eastern Himalayas and Indochina
Typical Environment
Occurs from the Himalayan foothills of Nepal, Bhutan, and northeast India through Myanmar, southern China (including Yunnan and Hainan), Laos, Vietnam, and northern Thailand. It favors dense thickets, bamboo stands, forest edges, and secondary growth, often along montane slopes and ravines. The species is typically associated with shrubby understory and bamboo within evergreen or mixed forests. It is common locally where suitable cover is present and can be overlooked due to its skulking habits.
Altitude Range
300–2800 m
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This small parrotbill roams in chattering flocks through bamboo and dense undergrowth from the eastern Himalayas to Indochina and Hainan. It frequently joins mixed-species feeding parties, using its short, parrot-like bill to pry insects from leaves and stems. Several subspecies vary subtly in tone and extent of grey on the head.
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Typically found in small, noisy flocks that move quickly through dense cover. Often participates in mixed-species foraging parties in the understory. Nests are usually cup-shaped and placed low in bamboo or thick shrubs, with cooperative vigilance among flock members.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A high, chattering series of thin notes interspersed with scolding buzzes and twitters. Calls are delivered frequently as flocks keep contact in dense vegetation, with occasional soft duets between pair members.
Plumage
Soft, warm brown to rufous-brown upperparts with a contrasting grey head and nape; underparts pale buff to whitish with slightly warmer flanks. Feathers appear loose and fluffy, giving a rounded, compact look. Tail is medium-length and often held cocked.
Diet
Gleans small insects, larvae, and spiders from leaves, stems, and bamboo culms. Also takes seeds, tender buds, and small berries, especially outside the breeding season. Uses its stout bill to pry and crush, often hanging acrobatically to reach food.
Preferred Environment
Feeds low to mid-level in bamboo thickets, tangled scrub, and forest understory. Common along forest edges, clearings with secondary growth, and bamboo-rich ravines.
