#yunnan nuthatch

[birdstudies]

August 25, 2023 - Yunnan Nuthatch (Sitta yunnanensis) Found in southern China and possibly extreme eastern India, these nuthatches live in mature pine forests. They feed on insects, often foraging among clusters of pine needles. Little is known about their breeding habits, though a female about to lay eggs was found in March and juveniles have been observed in late May. They are classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN due to likely population declines caused by habitat loss in their relatively small range.

[stamp-it-to-me]

two 2004 Chinese stamps depicting a yellow-bellied tit and a yunnan nuthatch

[id: two postage stamps, both with illustrations of birds perched on flowering branches. the left depicts a small black and white bird with a yellow belly while the right depicts a blue and white bird with black details. end id]

[rockjumperbirdingtours]

Ending off their epic Chinese birding tour around Sichuan, Glen Valentine and his group crossed over a tiny section of the vast Tibetan Plateau and then wound their way through Jiuzhai Valley and Tangjiahe National Parks to return to Chengdu, having added a plethora of mouth-watering specialities along the way. Top of the list was probably a family party of five of the beautiful and monotypic Przevalski’s Finch (Pinktail). Other major highlights included dozens of handsome Black-necked Cranes, Blue Eared Pheasant, an incredible 11 Golden Pheasants, endemic White-browed Tit, Przevalski’s Nuthatch, Spectacled Parrotbill and Slaty Bunting, highly sought-after Pere David’s Owl and Tawny Fish Owl, rarely seen Chinese Grouse, White-rumped, Rufous-necked and Tibetan Snowfinches, the strange Ground Tit, impressive Upland Buzzard and Saker Falcon, Chinese Sparrowhawk, the rare Chinese Grey Shrike, White-browed Tit-Warbler, Snowy-cheeked and Barred Laughingthrushes, Pere David’s Tit, Siberian Rubythroat, Eurasian Bittern, Brown-cheeked Rail, Tibetan Lark, Tibetan Serin and the uncommon Collared Crow. On the mammal front, they were entertained by Eurasian Wolf, Tibetan Fox, Tufted and Tibetan Roe Deer, Himalayan Marmot, Tibetan Macaque, Chinese Serow, Hog Badger, Chinese Goral and Golden Takin.

We look forward to seeing you on next year’s Sichuan and Yunnan trips!