The mountain tailorbird is a songbird species formerly placed in the "Old World warbler" assemblage, but is now placed in the genus Phyllergates of the family Cettiidae.
Region
Southeast Asia
Typical Environment
Occurs from the eastern Himalayas and southern China through Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Malaysia to the Greater Sundas (including Sumatra and Borneo). It inhabits subtropical and tropical moist montane forests, mossy forest, and dense secondary growth. The species favors thick understorey, forest edges, and bamboo thickets, often near streams and ravines. It is generally resident, with some local upslope or downslope movements following seasons and food availability.
Altitude Range
600–2800 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Formerly placed with the Old World warblers, the mountain tailorbird is now in the family Cettiidae, genus Phyllergates. True to its name, it often stitches or binds leaves with plant fibers or spider silk to help conceal its nest. It is an energetic undergrowth specialist of humid montane forests and often joins mixed-species flocks. Several subspecies occur across its broad Southeast Asian range.
A close-up image from Arunachal Pradesh, India
Temperament
active and skulking
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, low darting flights between cover
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly or in pairs, but commonly joins mixed-species foraging flocks in the undergrowth. Pairs are territorial during breeding and construct cleverly concealed, leaf-bound cup nests. Both parents typically attend young.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a series of thin, high-pitched tinkling notes, often accelerating and repeated from low perches inside dense vegetation. Calls include sharp ticks and sibilant seeps used in contact and alarm.
Plumage
Olive-green upperparts with a rufous to chestnut-tinged crown and nape, contrasting whitish to pale buff underparts with yellowish wash on the flanks. Tail relatively long and often cocked; feathers appear soft and slightly loose in the understorey. Fine, slightly decurved bill typical of small bush-warblers.
Diet
Primarily small arthropods, including insects, larvae, and spiders gleaned from foliage and twigs. It probes curled leaves, moss, and bamboo sheaths and may sally short distances to snap tiny flying insects. Occasional intake of small berries or nectar-like plant exudates may occur but is incidental.
Preferred Environment
Feeds in dense understorey, vine tangles, bamboo clumps, and along shaded forest edges. Often forages near streams and in mossy microhabitats where insect prey is abundant.
