About Orthotomus sutorius (Pennant, 1769)
The common tailorbird (Orthotomus sutorius) is a brightly colored bird. It has bright green upperparts and creamy underparts, with an olive-green base to its upperparts, a rufous crown, and creamy white undersides. Adults measure 10 to 14 centimeters (3.9 to 5.5 inches) in length and weigh 6 to 10 grams (0.21 to 0.35 ounces). They have short rounded wings, a long tail, strong legs, and a sharp bill with a curved tip to the upper mandible. Their overall build is wren-like, with a long upright tail that they often move around. Male and female common tailorbirds look identical, except males grow long central tail feathers during the breeding season, though the reliability of museum specimen sexing data used to confirm this sexual dimorphism has been questioned. Young common tailorbirds have duller plumage than adults. When the bird calls, dark patches on the sides of the neck become visible. These patches come from dark pigmented bare skin present in both sexes, and can sometimes look like a dark gorget. Like most warblers, the common tailorbird is insectivorous. Its song is a loud cheeup-cheeup-cheeup, with variations between different populations. Its disyllabic calls are repeated frequently. Common tailorbirds are found alone or in pairs, usually staying low in undergrowth or trees, and sometimes hopping on the ground. They forage for insects, and are known to feed on a wide range of beetles and bugs. They are attracted to insects on flowers, and particularly favor mango inflorescences. They also visit flowers of Bombax and Salmalia to feed on nectar, and sometimes become covered in pollen, which gives them a golden-headed appearance. During the non-breeding season, common tailorbirds roost alone. In the breeding season, they may roost side-by-side, sometimes with a newly fledged juvenile sandwiched between two adults. They choose roost sites on thin twigs in trees with cover above the roost, and these sites are often located close to human habitation and artificial lights.
