General

Red-billed Leiothrix: Native to southeast Asia. Crown, nape, and back are olive-green, lores, eyering, and supraloral stripe are cream to dull yellow. Bright yellow-orange throat, chin is yellow. underparts are pale yellow. Olive-brown wings have a yellow-orange patch. Bright red bill. Sexes are similar, females more dull. Juveniles have gray upperparts, dull red and yellow wing patches, yellow throat and rust breast-band. Bill is black with variable amounts of red at the tip.

Range and Habitat

Red-billed Leiothrix: Introduced to Kauai in 1918, to other islands in the 1920s-1930s. May no longer exist on Kauai, populations fluctuate on other islands. Found in native and exotic forests from ocean level to mountain tops. Native to Southeast Asia, Himalayan region of India, and southern China.

Breeding and Nesting

Red-billed Leiothrix: One to four pale blue eggs marked with red-brown at the larger end are laid in a pendant nest. It is built low in dense underbrush and made of lichen, leaves, and moss. Incubation lasts for 14 days and is primarily done by the female. Chicks fledge 10 to 12 days after hatching.

Foraging and Feeding

Red-billed Leiothrix: Forages on the ground and in the lower branches of dense vegetation. Feeds mostly on fruits, including strawberry guava, overripe papaya, and thimbleberry; also eats insects.

Vocalization

Red-billed Leiothrix: Males sing complex, long songs during breeding season. Year-round uses a shorter, simple song. Warbling and melodious song similar to Red-whiskered Bulbul. Both sexes use unique,short calls to stay together. When feeding utters "pu pu pu pu" or "pe pe pe pa". A harsh, loud chatter call is used when there are humans or other birds near their nest. Has a soft, sad whistle.

Similar Species

Red-billed Leiothrix: Not likely to be confused with any other species.