The large-billed leaf warbler is a species of migratory leaf warbler found in Asia.
Region
Himalayas and South Asia
Typical Environment
Breeds in montane forests of the Himalayas and adjacent ranges from northern Pakistan and India through Nepal and Bhutan to southwestern China and northern Myanmar. During the non-breeding season it migrates south across the Indian subcontinent, wintering widely in peninsular India and Sri Lanka. It favors broadleaf and mixed evergreen forest, wooded valleys, and riparian corridors when breeding. In winter it also occupies secondary growth, plantations, and well-treed gardens, often at lower elevations.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 3000 m
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This is a robust leaf warbler with a noticeably heavy bill and a pale median crown stripe that helps separate it from similar greenish warblers. Its loud, ringing two-note call often gives away its presence high in the canopy during migration. In winter it readily joins mixed-species flocks and can be seen in gardens and plantations as well as forests.
Temperament
active and restless
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually solitary or in pairs in the breeding season, moving methodically through foliage as it forages. Nests are typically domed and placed low in vegetation or on the ground in dense cover. In winter it frequently joins mixed-species foraging flocks and may use a variety of wooded habitats.
Migratory Pattern
Seasonal migrant
Song Description
Song is a loud, ringing, often two-part phrase delivered in repeated bursts, carrying well through forest canopies. Calls include sharp, metallic notes that are distinctive and often the first clue to its presence.
