Yellow Tit Machlolophus holsti is a large, unmistakable, and rare crested tit. Endemic to mountains of Taiwan, to about 2500 m (8,200 ft.), in winter to 700 m (2,300 ft.). HABITAT Canopy of primary broadleaved forests. ID & COMPARISON Cap, neck, and front of crest black; rear of crest white. Black streak connects cap with bill; short black streak in front of eye does not reach bill. Sides of forehead and face below eye bright yellow; slightly paler lower belly to white vent. Male has black ventral spot between legs. Upperparts black; wings edged blue with white tips to greater coverts, tertials, and secondaries. Tail blackish with blue tinge above. Female duller, with olive-green mantle, paler yellow underparts, and shorter crest. Juvenile has blue-grey crest and white underparts with yellow wash. Green-backed Tit Parus monticolus has olive-green upperparts, black bib and belly stripe, and no crest. Coal Tit Periparus ater ptilosus has white cheek patch and black bib. BARE PARTS Bill black; feet greyish-blue. VOICE Vocalizations typical of genus, with sibilant as well as harsh calls. Rhythmic song often repeated many times, but there is much variation, even within a single individual. — 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.
