The Common Tailorbird (Orthotomus sutorius guzuratus) is a small (13 cm), shy, and jittery bird who is loud for its size and is usually heard well before being seen, making it difficult to get a good look at or photograph.
Identification can be done in one of two ways. Via it's loud calls of "towittowit-towit" (fast) or "pretty-pretry", which is repeated often. Or when it affords you a glimpse. The first most prominent features you'll notice are: a rusty colored head and long upright tail. If it comes out of hiding long enough, you'll additionally observe it's long pale bill, pale legs, greenish upperparts, dull whitish underparts, and white supercilium (eyebrows). When calling, a black patch at the side of throat is also visible.
Both male and female are similar - except during breeding season, when the male is differentiated by its 2 elongated middle tail feathers. Young birds are duller and the rust color on its head is absent.
Appropriately named, "Common" refers to it being a widespread resident of peninsular India and is found throughout Goa. "Tailorbird" signifies the distinctive skill of stitching together 2-3 large leaves to provide the outer shell for the nest, which is placed less than a meter high.
Within the finely sewn leaves lays a well camouflaged cup-shaped nest, made of soft fibers, cotton wool and vegetable down. The stitching is done using plant fibers or spider's silk. The height of nesting season is June - August, during monsoon season. Both male and female play a role in nest building and feeding of the young. Normally three eggs are laid and incubation is for 12 days. The chance of survival is low due to predators (cats, dogs, crows, rodents, lizards, etc). If they survive the young birds fledge (leave the nest) in about 14 days.
The Common Tailorbird is a passerine bird. This refers to the arrangement of its toes, three pointing forward and one back. This allows it to perch easily. And it's slim bill allows it to forage for insects (beetles and bugs), small fruits, berries, tiny seeds, and feed on the nectar of the Red Silk Cotton Tree. While foraging for insects this bird is extremely active and makes short, quick darting flights.
It can be found singularly or as a pair in urban parks and gardens, wooded habitat, forest edges, and open farmland. It prefers to remain low in trees or in scrubs, and can at times be found on the ground.
The conservation status for this active and brightly colorful bird is 'Least concerned'.
Image Credit: Conrad Braganza
