Two of four ssp. of Green-backed Tit Parus monticolus in mainland China: nominate southern Tibet near border with Nepal and yunnanensis Sichuan and Yunnan north to Ningxia and south through southern Shaanxi to northern Guangxi. Also inseperatus endemic to Taiwan. HABITAT & BEHAVIOR Highly adaptable; found in many types of forest in a broad altitudinal range—to nearly 4000 m (13,120 ft.) in Yunnan, to 200 m (660 ft.) in Taiwan—but generally higher and in thicker and wetter forests than Japanese Tit P. minor. The two species, however, often can be found together in mixed-species feeding flocks. Alone, in pairs, or (especially in winter) in flocks. Like Japanese Tit, very inquisitive and active, and often tame. ID & COMPARISON Easily distinguished from Japanese Tit by bright, all-green mantle, double wingbars, and bright yellow underparts. Glossy black cap extends to nape, which also has small white patch; black line runs under large white cheek patch, connecting nape with bib and belly stripe. In male, belly stripe is broader, longer (nearly to vent; to center of belly in female), glossier, and blacker than female. Rest of underparts mostly bright yellow (whitish in Japanese Tit); lower belly and vent white. Olive-green mantle, scapulars, and back. Blue-black wings, with median and greater coverts fringed white, forming two wingbars. Tail feathers mainly black above, edged bluish; white sides of tail and tips to most feathers make it look largely white from below. Juvenile duller, with yellowish tinge on cheeks; ventral line shorter; black line nearly broken under cheek, and yellow gape. BARE PARTS Bill black; feet blue-black. VOICE Extensive repertoire of calls includes thin whistles and harsh, unmusical squeaks; vocalizations sweeter than Japanese Tit, the harsh calls drier and less metallic. — 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.
