Fun Ashy Tailorbird Facts For Kids
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The ashy tailorbird (Orthotomus ruficeps) is a species of the Orthotomus genus, Passeriformes order, and family Cisitcolidae, the group of all tailorbirds and warblers.
They were previously classified as an Old World warbler, but this was changed recently when it was found that they were more closely related to a tailorbird than the Old World warbler. The ashy tailorbird is really small in size and weight and is able to fly at breakneck speeds, making them extremely hard to capture photos of!
In the photos captured when they are static, they are seen to be quite soberly colored with an ashy gray topside, white underside feathers, and a red-brown head.
An ashy tailorbird (Orthotomus ruficeps) nest is extremely complex, just like any other species of tailorbird. First, male birds escort the females as she collects material for the nest, meaning the male ashy tailorbird (Orthotomus ruficeps) does not abandon the female after breeding, like a few other species of tailorbird.
The ashy tailorbird (Orthotomus ruficeps) female then selects a broad-leafed tree to build her nest in.
She first weaves a conical shelter with an entrance on the top. The main nest is then constructed inside this shelter for the young ashy tailorbird (Orthotomus ruficeps) to live in.
The natural habitat of the ashy tailorbird (Orthotomus ruficeps) consists of subtropical or tropical lowland forests and mangrove forests. Though these conditions could be satisfied by a variety of locations across the world, the ashy tailorbird (Orthotomus ruficeps) lives in Asia.
The ashy tailorbird (Orthotomus ruficeps) is a species of bird that has adapted well to humans, and they can be often found in urban areas as well.
As a result, the population of the ashy tailorbird (Orthotomus ruficeps) has not suffered yet due to deforestation and climate change. If only every bird species could be as flexible as the ashy tailorbird (Orthotomus ruficeps)!
If you enjoy this article on the ashy tailorbird (Orthotomus ruficeps), make sure to check out our facts pages on the Cambodian tailorbird and the bee hummingbird.
Ashy Tailorbird Interesting Facts
What type of animal is an ashy tailorbird?
The ashy tailorbird (Orthotomus ruficeps) is a type of bird.
What class of animal does an ashy tailorbird belong to?
The ashy tailorbird (Orthotomus ruficeps) is classified under the scientific class Aves, the group of all bird species. In this class, it belongs to the family Cisticolidae which is a family of a large range of species of small tailorbirds. It was formerly classified alongside the Old World warbler.
How many ashy tailorbirds are there in the world?
While the exact population of the ashy tailorbird (Orthotomus ruficeps) species in the world is not known, they are considered to be in abundant distribution across their natural habitat range of subtropical or tropical moist forests and mangroves.
Where does an ashy tailorbird live?
The ashy tailorbird (Orthotomus ruficeps) of the family Cisticolidae distribution stretches across the moist subtropical or tropical mangroves and forests of Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.
What is an ashy tailorbird's habitat?
The ashy tailorbird (Orthotomus ruficeps) has a relatively small habitat range, found only in moist subtropical or tropical broadleaf forests and mangroves.
Who does an ashy tailorbird live with?
The ashy tailorbird (Orthotomus ruficeps) prefers to roost in its intricate nest alone when not in the breeding season. However, this species of tailorbird is known to spend a lot of time with its mate taking care of their young and roosting with them.
How long does an ashy tailorbird live?
While the exact lifespan of the ashy tailorbird (Orthotomus ruficeps) in the wild has not been studied, similar bird species from the same family and genus are known to live for around 10 years.
How do they reproduce?
The ashy tailorbird (Orthotomus ruficeps) reproduces sexually which is natural for any species of bird. Though courtship between the male and female ashy tailorbird (Orthotomus ruficeps) may happen mid-air, copulation only happens on a tree branch. The ashy tailorbird (Orthotomus ruficeps) is well-known for its tendency to mate for life.
Their average clutch size is two to five eggs. Both parents of the two to five young ashy tailorbirds (Orthotomus ruficeps) feed and incubate their young. Clearly, the ashy tailorbird (Orthotomus ruficeps) has some great family values.
What is their conservation status?
The ashy tailorbird (Orthotomus ruficeps) currently has a status of Least Concern on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Species, meaning there are no current threats to the population of the ashy tailorbird (Orthotomus ruficeps) in the wild.
Thankfully, most birds of this genus have found ways to adapt to increasing human activities in the world.
Ashy Tailorbird Fun Facts
What does an ashy tailorbird look like?
The ashy tailorbird (Orthotomus ruficeps) has an ashy gray topside, giving root to its name. It also has a bright white underside and underwings.
Its head is tricolor with an orangish-brown accent. The tailorbird is one of the smallest of all birds out there and can be extremely hard to find, even after a long search through their habitat.
The best chance of seeing one is to search for them during the breeding season and look out for their shrill calls to spot their orange heads in the foliage.
How cute are they?
The ashy tailorbird (Orthotomus ruficeps) is one of the cutest birds out there, despite its sober coloration. They are often kept as pets in the Philippines and Singapore due to their pleasing looks.
How do they communicate?
The ashy tailorbird (Orthotomus ruficeps) is known to have two different types of shrill calls. The first one is reserved for docile communication with other birds or with their mate through the foliage of mangroves or forests.
The other, more high-pitched screech is used to warn other birds in the region of immediate dangers. Surprisingly, they do not actually see humans as major threats and are mostly tame when they live near human settlements, similar to the American tree sparrow and the myna.
How big is an ashy tailorbird?
The adult ashy tailorbird grows to around 4.7-5.1 in (12-13 cm), meaning they are only slightly bigger than a calliope hummingbird and around one and a half times smaller than the mountain bluebird.
How fast can an ashy tailorbird fly?
Though the exact flight speed of the ashy tailorbird has not been studied, similar species are known to be able to hit speeds of around 27 mph (43 kph).
How much does an ashy tailorbird weigh?
An adult ashy tailorbird weighs only about 0.2-0.35 oz (6-10 g).
What are the male and female names of the species?
Both male and female tailorbirds can be referred to by the same name since there are no broad terms for male and female birds in common use.
What would you call a baby ashy tailorbird?
A baby bird is often called a hatchling, meaning a baby of this species can be referred to as an ashy tailor-hatchling.
What do they eat?
The ashy tailorbird is known to feed on a number of common insects like beetles, bugs, mites, ticks, fleas, centipedes, and millipedes, as well as fruits, leaves, nuts, roots, and shoots.
Are they dangerous?
No, not at all! They would much rather fly away than attack a human. However, when a wild ashy feels threatened with no means of escape, this bird may bite you.
Would they make a good pet?
Yes, absolutely! They do not require much care and can be fed easily. They are extremely cute and tame too. The ashy tailorbird is quite a common pet across Singapore, Vietnam, and Malaysia.
Did you know...
Though the ashy tailorbird is found only in Southeast Asia, it is not often regarded as being endemic to the region due to the fact that it can easily adapt to similar conditions when kept in captivity in different parts of the world. Also, it is very common in Singapore.
What is unique about the ashy tailorbird?
The defining quality of every tailorbird is definitely its nest. It weaves and stitches an intricate conical shelter first, inside which the nest is then built. This process can take quite a while but is definitely worth it since tailorbird hatchlings are kept very safe from nest robbers like snakes and eagles.
Do ashy tailorbirds migrate?
Ashy tailorbirds do not usually have to migrate during any season of the year as they are well-adapted to the conditions of their home countries. They can be spotted in Southeast Asia during any time of the year, given you know where to search for them.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other birds from our sunbird facts and kea parrot facts pages.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Ashy tailorbird coloring pages.
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Bachelor of Engineering specializing in Computer Engineering
Aabir BasuBachelor of Engineering specializing in Computer Engineering
During Aabir's higher education at Indian School Muscat, he received several academic awards before pursuing his Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering at Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada. In addition to his academic achievements, Aabir participated in two Model United Nations conferences and volunteered as a librarian. With his diverse background and language skills, Aabir is a valuable member of the Kidadl team.
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