Tailorbirds' Habitat

The tailorbird cocks its long tail like a wren.

The tailorbird is a little Asian songbird with a big voice. These birds are strong singers; their calls are louder than one would expect such small birds to make. The tailorbird gets its name from its practice of "sewing" large leaves together to build a nest. A principal character in one of Rudyard Kipling's "Jungle Book Stories" is a friendly tailorbird, but in reality these shy, restless birds are more often heard than seen.

Description

The common tailorbird is a small warbler---only 4 3/4 to 5 1/8 inches long---with long legs and tail. The bird's underside is cream- or buff-colored, the wings and back are bright green and the crown of its head is chestnut. The tailorbird uses its long beak to catch insects, which are the mainstay of its diet.

Range

The tailorbird lives in the tropics of Asia; it is found in Pakistan, India, China and Indonesia. Although its original habitat was light forestland, the species has adapted well to the intrusion of cities and today may be found in parks, gardens and even balconies. The Simpoh air tree is critical to tailorbirds' habitat: It is with leaves of this tree that they construct their nests.

Food

Like other songbirds, the tailorbird eats insects and their larvae.

Tailorbirds are insectivores and require a habitat where insects are plentiful. They consume both adult insects and larvae, using their beaks to forage in the undergrowth. They round out their diet with fruits and berries.

Breeding

Tailorbird breeding season begins in January and continues until June. Generally, the male and female birds look alike, but during breeding season the male's central tail feathers grow long and plumy. The mother lays two to six pale blue eggs and both parents incubate and raise the young.

Nest Construction

Tailorbird nest construction is unique in the bird kingdom. First, the birds curl a large leaf by twisting spider web strands around it. Then they pierce holes on the edges of the leaf and lace it together with plant fibers or spider webs to form a pouch for their eggs. Tailorbirds use living leaves for the nest and the result is waterproof and well-camouflaged.

References

• Kikau Burung: Common Tailorbird
• Mangrove and Wetland Wildlife at Sungei Buloh Wetlands Reserve: Common Tailorbird
• Mangrove and Wetland Wildlife at Sungei Buloh Wetlands Reserve: Tailorbirds