Birdsong field guide
Red-billed Leiothrix
Leiothrix lutea
A vibrant, small-bodied Old World babbler distinguished by its bright scarlet bill, olive-green plumage, and glowing yellow-to-orange throat. It is a highly social and active passerine often found moving through dense understory.
What it sounds like
A complex, flute-like warble with varied melodic phrases, accompanied by sharp 'churr' alarm notes.
Reference call, compare with what you heard
No reference call found yet · Xeno-canto
Field notes
- Commonly known as the 'Pekin Nightingale' in the pet trade, though it is not closely related to true nightingales.
- The species exhibits subtle sexual dimorphism; males generally possess brighter plumage and a more complex song than females.
- It is a highly successful invasive species with established populations in Hawaii, Japan, and Southern Europe originating from cage-bird escapes.
- During the breeding season, pairs are monogamous and maintain high levels of contact through mutual preening.
- Its diet is opportunistic and omnivorous, consisting of a mix of insects, spiders, berries, and various seeds.
Habitat
Dense subtropical and temperate broadleaf forests, bamboo groves, and thickets with heavy secondary growth.
Range
Native to Southern Asia from the Himalayas to China; introduced to Hawaii, Japan, France, Spain, and Italy.
Similar & commonly confused birds
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