The Taiwan hwamei is a passerine bird in the family Leiothrichidae. The species was first described by Robert Swinhoe in 1859. It is endemic to the island of Taiwan. It was formerly regarded as a subspecies of the Chinese hwamei but has since been split as a separate species. It is estimated to have diverged from the Chinese hwamei about 1.5 million years ago.
Region
East Asia
Typical Environment
Endemic to Taiwan, it occupies lowland to foothill forests, forest edges, and dense secondary growth. It is commonly found in thickets, bamboo stands, and scrubby ravines, and readily uses overgrown plantations and rural hedgerows. The species tolerates lightly disturbed habitats and may occur in larger parks and wooded gardens near foothills. It typically keeps to dense understory where it forages close to the ground.
Altitude Range
0–1600 m
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
The Taiwan hwamei is an endemic babbler whose name refers to its distinctive ‘painted eyebrow,’ which in this species appears as a clean white eye-ring. It was formerly treated as a subspecies of the Chinese hwamei but is now recognized as a separate species, likely diverging about 1.5 million years ago. Its rich, melodious song has made it popular in the cage-bird trade, which has influenced local populations in the past.
Temperament
skulking and secretive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with low, darting flights through cover
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly or in pairs, sometimes in small family groups after breeding. Pairs maintain territories in dense understory and communicate with soft calls. Nesting is in low shrubs or dense vegetation; a cup-shaped nest holds a small clutch that both parents tend. They are generally monogamous within a breeding season.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A rich, fluting, and melodious song with clear whistled phrases and varied trills. Males sing from concealed perches within dense cover, often at dawn, and can sustain lengthy bouts of complex improvisation.
