Appearance
The black-throated bushtit is a small passerine, around 10.5 cm long and weighing 4–9 g. There is considerable racial variation in the plumage, but all subspecies have a medium length tail, a black throat and a black 'bandit mask' around the eye. The nominate race has a chestnut cap, breast band and flanks and dark grey back, wings and tail, and a white belly. The other subspecies have generally the same pattern but with grey caps or all grey bellies and flanks. Both sexes are alike.
Distribution
It ranges from the foothills of the Himalayas, stretching across northern India through north-eastern Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, northern Myanmar, Vietnam, and Taiwan. Disjunct populations also occur in southern Vietnam, the island of Hainan and further north in China up to the Yellow River.Behavior
The black-throated bushtit is highly social and will travel in large flocks of up to 40 birds.Habitat
It lives in open broadleaf forest as well as pine forest, generally occurring in middle altitudes.Reproduction
The nest is constructed out of moss and lichen and hangs from the branches of trees.Food
The species feeds on small insects and spiders, as well as small seeds, fruits and berries. Group numbers swell during the non-breeding season, but smaller groups exist year round. These groups will often join mixed-species feeding flocks.References:
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