FOR AGES 3 YEARS TO 18 YEARS
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Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
Tailorbirds are petite birds that mostly belong to the Orthotomus genus. They were formerly classified as members of the Old World warblers family Sylviidae but a new study indicates that they are more likely to be included in the family Cisticolidae now. These warblers are vibrantly colored, with upperparts that are green or gray in color and underparts that are yellow-white or gray. On the crown, they usually have a splash of chestnut color. They have short rounded wings, sturdy legs, and a slender, long tail at the back. Both sexes have a neat black collar that is visible only when their neck is stretched. Males and females are almost identical; their only distinguishing characteristic is that the central tail feathers of males are longer. They are found throughout the Old World tropics, mostly in Asia where they can be commonly seen in local parks, scrubs, wooded areas, or forests. The tailorbird is known for its ability to make intricate nests by punching holes in the edges of a leaf with the help of its slender bill and sewing these leaves with holes together with spider silk or plant fibers.
To learn more about these captivating birds, we have gathered a set of intriguing facts about them for you to discover. You can also read interesting facts about the great tit and the tawny owl.
They are songbirds with short rounded wings and strong legs, famously known for their nest-building technique. They have an olive-green upperside and a creamy white underside. They were formerly part of the Sylviidae family but were later on moved to the family Cisticolidae.
These birds belong to the class of Aves.
Their exact population is unknown given their extensive number of species. Despite their widespread distribution, most people are unaware of the existence of this bird which is not easily noticeable in nature due to its petite body and somber hues.
These small and delicate birds have a range of habitats including open forests, scrub, and gardens. This bird is a regular resident of local gardens. There are considerable populations of tailorbirds throughout Asia from India to Sri Lanka to Pakistan and Southern China to Indonesia. They are a common sight in the gardens of India and China.
This bird inhabits places that have a thick cover like gardens or parks. It lives in the intricate nest it builds. The female forms the cover of the nest by methodically piercing an equal number of holes on the edges of a leaf with her pointed bill, using a single leaf or a cluster of leaves. Then they 'sew' the leaves to form a nest that is further lined with cotton and animal hairs to make it inhabitable.
They are normally seen alone or in couples. They are seen low in the bushes or trees or occasionally jumping in grass.
The lifespan of this bird is unknown
Their breeding season starts in March and ends in December. During the breeding season, two of the male's long central tail feathers grow longer, reaching 2 in (5.08 cm) beyond the tail. Nest robbers like snakes, lizards, mongooses, and numerous predatory birds thrive in the tropical shrubbery where the tailorbird resides. Therefore, the tailorbird builds its nest deeply in a dense group of bushes or in trees that are as tall as 20 ft (6.1 m) high to protect itself from these predators.
These birds are widespread and adapt to human habitation relatively easily. Their conservation status is Least Concern. However, despite this, their population trend has seen a slight decline
The dainty tailorbird has a long curved bill (which helps it when punching holes in leaves), short rounded wings, and a short tail. It has an upright tail that resembles the wren. Its upperparts are primarily olive green, with a rufous crown. Its underparts are of a light cream color. During the mating season, the male has long central tail feathers, but otherwise, both sexes look similar. The only distinguishing feature between male and female tailorbirds is the length of their tail. Younger ones have a duller appearance, and the common tailorbird is vibrantly colored with an erect tail.
This passerine bird is quite cute and dainty. It has the capability to create an intricate nest which makes it intriguing to observe. Its petite body and somber hues give it a charming appearance.
They are songbirds who communicate through song, calls, or physical displays. The basic tailorbird sound goes 'cheeup-cheeup-cheeup' but this sound varies by species. Their disyllabic calls are recurrent.
Tailorbirds, such as the common tailorbird, are between 3.9-5.5 in (10-14 cm) long.
This bird is known to be quite fast and swift, but its exact speed is unknown.
This bird can weigh anywhere in the range of 0.21-0.35 oz (6-10 g).
There are no specific names for males and females of this species.
A baby tailorbird is called a chick.
These birds, like other warblers, feed on tiny invertebrates and insects which are abundant in their tropical environment. They use their bill to remove bugs, beetles, spiders, and caterpillars from leaves and branches as they creep through the undergrowth. This bird can also reach deep inside flowerheads to sip the sweet nectar.
They are wild birds who maintain a certain distance from humans as we pose a natural threat to them. They are naturally shy creatures.
According to the Wildlife Protection Act they cannot be kept as pets. However, if you provide a perfect environment, they might become a visitor to your garden or maybe even build a nest there!
The common tailorbird's Latin name, 'sutorius', means 'cobbler' instead of 'tailor', whereas 'orthotomus' means 'straight cutting.
They are drawn to insects on flowers and have been observed to prefer mango inflorescences.
There are 13 species in the genus Orthotomus. Some of these are the common tailorbird, the Philippine tailorbird, the Rufou-tailed tailorbird, and many more.
They acquire their name from their technique of sewing leaves to build their nests. To build a cradle in which the real grass nest is created, the edges of a big leaf are perforated and sewed together with plant fiber or spider's web. With its slender beak, the common tailorbird punches a number of holes in the leaf, then pulls insect silk, plant fiber, or household thread through these holes to create separate loops that are tied on the exterior. As it stitches these fibers together to make a woven nest, a cradle is formed, in which the grass nest is laid. This nest does not have a specific name. Amazing!
No, a weaver bird is not the same as a tailorbird. The weaverbird belongs to the family Ploceidae whereas the tailorbird belongs to the family Cisticolidae. Both of them are of the same order Passeriformes.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other birds including the summer tanager, or the least tern.
You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our Tailorbird coloring pages.
https://www.britannica.com/animal/tailorbird
https://www.10000birds.com/common-tailorbird.htm
https://thewebsiteofeverything.com/animals/birds/Passeriformes/Sylviidae/Orthotomus-sutorius
https://geeta-singh.blogspot.com/2011/06/tailorbird-facts-amazing-facts.html?m=1
Read The Disclaimer
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
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