Sulphur-billed nuthatch

The sulphur-billed nuthatch (Sitta oenochlamys) is a species of bird in the family Sittidae. It is endemic to the Philippines. Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forest and tropical moist montane forest.^[1] It is commonly found in mixed flocks along with Blue-headed fantails, sunbirds, flowerpeckers and other small forest birds.

Sulphur-billed nuthatch
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Sittidae
Genus:	Sitta
Species:	S. oenochlamys
Binomial name
Sitta oenochlamys (Sharpe, 1877)

Description and taxonomy

EBird describes the bird as "A small bird of lowland and montane forest and edge. Unmistakable; the only nuthatch in its range. Blue above with a black edge to the wing, a black forehead, a thin black stripe behind the eye, pale pink underparts, and a yellow bill, eye, and eye-ring. Often joins mixed-species flocks. The only woodpecker similar in size is Philippine Woodpecker, but Sulphur-billed Nuthatch is blue rather than brown. Voice includes high-pitched, descending shrieking calls and sharp staccato chips."^[2]

Subspecies

Three subspecies are recognized:

• S.o. oenochlamys — Found on Panay, Guimaras, Negros and Cebu
• S.o. mesoleuca — Found on Northwest Luzon around the Cordillera Mountain Range
• S.o. isarog — Found on Luzon except the Northwest
• S.o. lilacea —Found on Samar, Leyte, Biliran,
• S.o. apo — Found on Mindanao except the Zamboanga Peninsula
• S.o. zamboanga —Found on Zamboanga Peninsula, and Basilan

Ecology and behavior

Feeds on insects. Found singly, in pairs, in flocks of up to 20 individuals and also joins mixed species flocks. It is very active and forages near the canopy, it is often seen on trunks where its gleans loose bark, moss or epiphytes.

Birds collected in breeding condition with enlarged gonads in January to May. Not much else is known.^[3]

Habitat and conservation status

Its natural habitats at tropical moist lowland and montane primary forest and secondary forest up to 2,060 meters above sea level. It is more common in higher elevations.

The IUCN Red List has assessed this bird as least-concern species as it is still common throughout its large range. The population is decreasing due to the habitat loss and deforestation in the Philippines. More studies are recommended to better understand this species, population and conservation status. ^[3]