The common tailorbird gets its name from the nest it creates by "sewing" leaves together to form a cradle-like structure for its eggs. Tailorbirds are songbirds with a large repertoire, and are heard much more often than they are seen. They live in tropical areas where trees are prevalent since they require leaves to build their homes.
Appearance
The common tailorbird is brightly-colored and has a long erect tail. The males and females look the same, except in the breeding season when the male grows long central tail feathers. Both sexes have brown heads, green upper bodies, and bright yellow or white underbodies. They have short wings and sturdy legs, and are approximately five inches long. The pointed beaks of tailorbirds are strong and nimble.
Habitat
Tailorbirds are being spotted in increasing numbers in urban areas, but their natural habitat is wherever trees are growing, along the edges of forests, in parks and gardens and groves. In Singapore, tailorbirds favor building their nests in the simpoh air tree.
Geography
Although tailorbirds have been seen in European areas, they are indigenous to tropical climates. They live in arboreal regions in southern China, Indonesia, India, and Pakistan and can also be found in Sri Lanka.
Breeding
During breeding season, the male tailorbird grows long tail feathers, up to an extra inch in length. In Sri Lanka, the male retains these longer tail feathers all year long, but in other regions, he loses them after breeding season ends. Tailorbirds fashion their nests out of living leaves (which are much stronger than dead ones) by piercing the edges of a large leaf or up to three smaller ones, and "stitching" it together with threads of plant material or spider web strands. The ends of the "threads" are made into balls so the "stitching" will not slip loose. The potential parent tailorbirds then line the leaf nest with soft, fluffy materials, such as grass, horsehair and cottony seeds. The female lays up to six light-blue speckled eggs in her homemade haven, and though only the mother incubates the eggs, both parents care for the chicks. Tailorbird chicks are ready to fly in about three weeks.
Ecology
Tailorbirds are not an endangered species, since they are highly adaptable to their environment and resistant to human encroachment. Because tailorbirds are insectivorous (insect-eating), they contribute to the ecology of their habitats by keeping the insect pest population in balance. They will also eat fruit and small seeds.
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