Sichuan Tit Poecile weigoldicus is a close relative of Willow Tit P. montanus, in particular ssp. songarus, affinis, and stoetzneri, with which it has been considered to be a separate species, “Songar Tit.” Black-bibbed Tit P. hypermelaenus is also very similar and has an overlapping range. A Chinese endemic, Sichuan Tit is distributed from southeast Qinghai and western Sichuan to southeast Tibet and northwest Yunnan. HABITAT Coniferous forest and above tree line, between 2200 m (7,220 ft.) and 4310 m (14,140 ft.). ID & COMPARISON Cap dull black with brown tinge and no hint of crest. Black-bibbed Tit may show ragged rear crest and has glossy black cap. Large bib brownish-black; bib of Black-bibbed Tit is glossier black and better defined. Bib of the Marsh Tit in region (P. palustris hellmayri) is much narrower and covers upper throat only. Mantle, wings, and square-ended tail greyish-brown, not tinged olive-green, as Black-bibbed; pale fringes to secondaries form faint wing panel. White cheek patch narrow at base of bill, broadening toward nape. Underparts light grey-brown, with some individuals showing cinnamon wash on flanks; underparts of Black-bibbed have olive-brown wash. Black-bibbed is smaller than Sichuan and has slightly rounded tail. BARE PARTS Bill black; feet grey-black. VOICE Harsh, nasal calls, similar to Willow Tit. — 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.
