Tailorbirds are small birds, most belonging to the genus Orthotomus. While they were often placed in the Old World warbler family Sylviidae, recent research suggests they more likely belong in the Cisticolidae and they are treated as such in Del Hoyo et al. One former species, the mountain tailorbird (and therefore also its sister species rufous-headed tailorbird), is actually closer to an old world warbler genus Cettia.

They occur in the Old World tropics, principally in Asia.

These cisticolas are usually brightly colored, with green or grey upper parts and yellow white or grey under parts. They often have chestnut on the head.

Tailorbirds have short rounded wings, short tails, strong legs and long curved bills. The tail is typically held upright, like a wren. They are typically found in open woodland, scrub and gardens.

Tailorbirds get their name from the way their nest is constructed. The edges of a large leaf are pierced and sewn together with plant fibre or spider's web to make a cradle in which the actual grass nest is built.

Taxonomy

The genus Orthotomus was introduced in 1821 by the American naturalist Thomas Horsfield to include a single species, Orthotomus sepium Horsfield, 1821, the olive-backed tailorbird. This is therefore the type species of the genus by monotypy. The genus name is from Ancient Greek ορθος/orthos meaning "straight" and τομευς/tomeus, τομεως/tomeōs meaning "knife" or "edge".

Species

The genus contains 13 species:

Two species moved to the Cettiidae:

• Mountain tailorbird, Phyllergates cucullatus

• Rufous-headed tailorbird, Phyllergates heterolaemus

References

Further reading

• The New Student's Reference Work/Tailor-Bird

• Baker, Kevin. Warblers of Europe, Asia and North Africa. (2007).

• Ryan, Peter (2006). Family Cisticolidae (Cisticolas and allies). Pp.378–492 in del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Christie, D.A. (editors). (2006). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 11. Old World Flycatchers to Old World Warblers. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.

External links

• Call of the common tailorbird