Black-breasted Parrotbill
Paradoxornis flavirostris
The Black-breasted Parrotbill (Paradoxornis flavirostris) is a rare parrotbill found only in India, weighing about 26 g. The black-breasted parrotbill is a 19 cm (7.5 in) long, large, thick-billed parrotbill with black patches on the head-sides and throat.
About the Black-breasted Parrotbill
The black-breasted parrotbill is a 19 cm (7.5 in) long, large, thick-billed parrotbill with black patches on the head-sides and throat. Formerly placed in the family Sylviidae, the parrotbills are now considered a distinct family, the Paradoxornithidae, following Cai et al. (2019).
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The bird is more or less brown all over, with an extensive black area on upper breast and uniform rufous-buff remainder of underparts. The similar spot-breasted parrotbill, a close relative, has arrow-shaped spotting on breast and pale buff underparts. The voice is a gruff howh, jeehw or jahw, the song a rhythmic series, aw jahw jahw jahw and uhwi uhwi uhwi uhwi. Alternatively, a higher-pitched wi chi'chi'chi'chi'chi, wi yi'yi'yi'yi'yi; wi'uwi-uwi-uwi wi chu-chu-chu is given.
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, October, November, December, with peak activity in April. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Black-breasted Parrotbill?
- The bird is more or less brown all over, with an extensive black area on upper breast and uniform rufous-buff remainder of underparts. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Black-breasted Parrotbill?
- The Black-breasted Parrotbill is a small sized bird weighing about 26 g.
- Where can you see a Black-breasted Parrotbill?
- The Black-breasted Parrotbill is endemic to India, which is the only country where it occurs.
- What birds look similar to a Black-breasted Parrotbill?
- The Black-breasted Parrotbill is most easily confused with the Spot-breasted Parrotbill and the Reed Parrotbill.
- Is the Black-breasted Parrotbill endangered?
- The Black-breasted Parrotbill is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Black-breasted Parrotbill for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
Play BeakBrainEvery photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.