About Garrulax taewanus Swinhoe, 1859
The Taiwan hwamei (Garrulax taewanus) is a passerine bird that belongs to the family Leiothrichidae. This species was first described by Robert Swinhoe in 1859, and it is endemic to the island of Taiwan. It was previously classified as a subspecies of the Chinese hwamei (Garrulax canorus), but has since been recognized as a separate species. Estimates indicate it diverged from the Chinese hwamei roughly 1.5 million years ago. It reaches approximately 24 centimeters in total length. Its plumage is primarily grey-brown, with heavy streaking across the crown, nape and back, and fine streaking across most of its underparts. Unlike the Chinese hwamei, it does not have the characteristic white eye markings; Chinese hwamei are also more rufous in overall color and have less heavy streaking than the Taiwan hwamei. Its song consists of long, melodious, varied whistles. It lives in secondary woodland found in foothills and lower mountain areas, up to 1,200 meters above sea level. It forages alone, in pairs, or in small groups, searching through the understorey to feed on insects and seeds. Its population is currently declining, and numbers are estimated to be between 1,000 and 10,000 mature individuals. BirdLife International classifies this species as near threatened. While habitat loss may impact its population size, the primary threat it faces is hybridization with introduced populations of the Chinese hwamei.
