The pale billed parrotbill is a small and round bird with a short tail that was first found in China, where it still resides in evergreen forests or in habitats with bamboo. The pale billed parrotbill's scientific name is chleausicus atrosuperciliaris.
Region
Southeast Asia
Typical Environment
Occurs from northeastern India and Bhutan through northern Myanmar and western Thailand, across Laos and northern Vietnam, and into southern China (notably Yunnan and Guangxi). Prefers dense bamboo undergrowth in subtropical evergreen and mixed forests, as well as secondary growth and forest edges. It often follows riparian corridors and hillside thickets where bamboo is abundant. The species is generally local but can be common where suitable bamboo stands are extensive.
Altitude Range
200–2400 m
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
The pale-billed parrotbill is a bamboo specialist that often forages acrobatically, clambering through dense thickets with its stout bill. It is frequently encountered in small, chatty parties that move with mixed-species flocks along forest edges. Taxonomically, it has shifted genera in the past, but is now placed in the monotypic genus Chleuasicus. Its pale, horn-colored bill and bold dark brow make it one of the easier parrotbills to identify.
Illustration of the pale-billed parrotbill
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Commonly travels in small, noisy groups and often associates with mixed-species flocks in the undergrowth. Nests are typically cup-shaped and placed low in bamboo clumps or dense shrubs. Pairs maintain close contact calls while foraging and may remain in family parties after breeding.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A series of thin, high-pitched notes and short twitters interspersed with scolding chips. Calls are frequent as groups move through bamboo, aiding in contact and cohesion.
Plumage
Warm brown to rufous-brown upperparts with paler, buffy underparts; face buff with a contrasting dark supercilium. Crown and nape can appear grayish-brown; wings plain with minimal patterning. The bill is stout and pale, giving a parrot-like profile.
Diet
Feeds on small insects and other arthropods gleaned from bamboo leaves and stems. Also takes seeds, including bamboo seeds when available, and occasionally soft fruits. Uses its stout bill to pry and probe into tight clusters of foliage.
Preferred Environment
Dense bamboo thickets within subtropical forest edges, secondary growth, and riparian scrub. Often forages from near ground level to mid-understory, moving methodically through tangled stems.
