A hardy bird of high altitudes, Rufous-vented Tit Periparus rubidiventris ranges from western Himalayas to China and north Burma. Bulk of distribution is southwest China, with beavani from southern Tibet and western Yunnan through western Sichuan to eastern Qinghai and east to southern Gansu and southern Shaanxi. Generally resident at altitudinal range of 2000–4500 m (6,560–14,760 ft.). HABITAT & BEHAVIOR Variety of forest types, from broadleaved temperate forests at lower altitudes to boreal conifer forests at higher elevations. Feeds mainly in canopy and in lower shrub layer, but can be found above timberline. Usually found in pairs or small parties; sometimes in mixed foraging flocks. Often tame. ID & COMPARISON Prominent black crest and black cap, white nuchal spot and cheeks, and black bib. Upperparts grey-blue; underparts grey, vent rufous. Rufous patch (sometimes hidden) on sides of breast. Juvenile duller with much smaller crest and yellow on cheeks. Coal Tit P. ater aemodius is smaller and has white double wingbar. Rufous-naped Tit P. rufonuchalis has more extensive bib. BARE PARTS Bill black; feet blue-grey. VOICE Wide variety of high-pitched, often complex calls, plus fast song reminiscent of Coal Tit. — Craig Brelsford
THE TITS AND CHICKADEES OF CHINA
shanghaibirding.com covers every species in the family Paridae in China. Click any link:
Fire-capped Tit Cephalopyrus flammiceps
Yellow-browed Tit Sylviparus modestus
Sultan Tit Melanochlora sultanea
Rufous-naped Tit Periparus rufonuchalis
Rufous-vented Tit P. rubidiventris
Coal Tit P. ater
Yellow-bellied Tit Pardaliparus venustulus
Grey Crested Tit Lophophanes dichrous
Varied Tit Sittiparus varius
White-browed Tit Poecile superciliosus
Pere David’s Tit P. davidi
Black-bibbed Tit P. hypermelaenus
Marsh Tit P. palustris
Sichuan Tit P. weigoldicus
Willow Tit P. montanus
Azure Tit Cyanistes cyanus
Ground Tit Pseudopodoces humilis
Great Tit Parus major
Japanese Tit P. minor
Cinereous Tit P. cinereus
Green-backed Tit P. monticolus
Himalayan Black-lored Tit Machlolophus xanthogenys
Yellow-cheeked Tit M. spilonotus
See also these Taiwan endemics:
Chestnut-bellied Tit Sittiparus castaneoventris
Yellow Tit Machlolophus holsti
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Daniel Bengtsson served as chief ornithological consultant for Craig Brelsford’s Photographic Field Guide to the Birds of China, from which this species description is drawn.