The white-eared tailorbird is a species of bird formerly placed in the "Old World warbler" assemblage, it but now placed in the family Cisticolidae.It is found in the Philippine islands of Basilan and West Mindanao.
Region
Southern Philippines (Basilan and western Mindanao)
Typical Environment
Occupies dense lowland and foothill forest, including primary and well-grown secondary forest, forest edges, and tangled thickets. It favors the shrub layer and vine tangles, often close to clearings or along streams. It also uses bamboo clumps and secondary growth where cover is continuous. Habitat fragmentation and conversion to agriculture limit its range to remnant forest patches.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1000 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A shy understory skulker, the white-eared tailorbird is best detected by its sharp, insect-like trills. Like other tailorbirds, it famously stitches leaves together with plant fibers and spider silk to form a cradle-like nest. It is restricted to Basilan and western Mindanao in the Philippines, where forest loss is its main threat.
An illustration by John Gerrard Keulemans
Temperament
skulking but active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats low through the understory
Social Behavior
Usually seen in pairs or small family groups, sometimes accompanying mixed-species flocks along forest edges. Monogamous, with both sexes involved in nest building. The nest is a classic tailorbird creation, with leaves stitched together and lined with soft fibers, placed low in shrubs.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
High-pitched, insect-like trills and sharp tsee-tsee notes delivered from concealed perches. Phrases are repeated in quick bursts, often accelerating and fading, making the bird easier to hear than see.
