Red-billed Leiothrix
Leiothrix lutea
The Red-billed Leiothrix (Leiothrix lutea) is a uncommon laughingthrush found in 23 countries, weighing about 21 g. The red-billed leiothrix is a member of the family Leiothrichidae, native to southern China and the Himalayas.
About the Red-billed Leiothrix
The red-billed leiothrix is a member of the family Leiothrichidae, native to southern China and the Himalayas. Adults have bright red bills and a yellowish-white ring around their eyes. Their backs are dull olive green, and they have a bright yellow-orange throat with a yellow chin; females are somewhat duller than males, and juveniles have black bills. It has also been introduced in various parts of the world, with small populations of escapees having existed in Japan since the 1980s. It has become a common cagebird and amongst aviculturists it goes by various names, including Pekin robin, Pekin nightingale, Japanese nightingale, and Japanese (hill) robin, these all being misnomers as it…
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The leiothrix is 14–15.5 cm long, generally olive green, and has a yellow throat with orange shading on the breast. It also has a yellowish-white ring around the eye that extends to the beak. The edges of the wing feathers are brightly coloured with yellow, orange, red and black and the forked tail is olive brown and blackish at the tip. The cheeks and side of the neck are a bluish grey colour. The eye is brown, the bill red, and the legs and feet pinkish. The sexes are similar, though the females are slightly smaller and duller, with less red on the wing; juveniles even duller.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Germany, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), Belgium, Thailand, United Kingdom, Netherlands.
When to see it
The Red-billed Leiothrix can be seen all year round, with peak activity in April. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Red-billed Leiothrix?
- The leiothrix is 14–15.5 cm long, generally olive green, and has a yellow throat with orange shading on the breast. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Red-billed Leiothrix?
- The Red-billed Leiothrix is a small sized bird weighing about 21 g.
- Where can you see a Red-billed Leiothrix?
- The Red-billed Leiothrix occurs in 23 countries, including the United States, India, Spain, China and France.
- What birds look similar to a Red-billed Leiothrix?
- The Red-billed Leiothrix is most easily confused with the Silver-eared Mesia.
- Is the Red-billed Leiothrix endangered?
- The Red-billed Leiothrix is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
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