Common Tailorbird

aka Orthotomus sutorius

The common tailorbird is one of the most abundant and widespread of Hong Kong’s resident birds. It is found throughout the territory except for the highest mountain peaks and built-up areas lacking in any greenery. It can be identified by its green mantle and rufous fore crown, but its most distinctive feature is a long tail, often cocked. Although not shy, it tends to keep to the undergrowth where its presence is indicated by its voice – it is a noisy bird for its size and utters a loud, repetitive chip chip.

The common tailorbird is the most widespread of the 13 tailorbird species in South and Southeast Asia. It can be found from Pakistan to Fujian province. Tailorbirds get their name from their nest-building technique. They stitch two leaves together – making small holes with their beaks and then pulling natural fibres, such as spider’s webs, through the holes to sew them together – and build the nest in the space between the leaves.

Common tailorbirds have been known to use man-made fibres, including cotton thread, in this process. Up to 200 stitches have been counted in a single nest. It is the female that sews the leaves together and builds the nest – a deep downy cup lined with fibres. The male supplies the material for the nest. Three eggs are usually laid and both sexes take turns to incubate them in the 12 days they take to hatch.