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Red-billed leiothrix
The red‑billed leiothrix is a colourful and melodic songbird native to regions from China through Southeast Asia, where it inhabits forest edges, dense shrub thickets, and areas of secondary growth. Its olive‑green plumage, bright yellow‑orange throat, red bill, and red wing patch make it an eye‑catching species often heard before it is seen, thanks to its rich, flute‑like calls.
You can find our red-billed leiothrix free-flying in the Tropical House.
Class:
Aves
Order:
Passeriformes
Family:
Leiothrichidae
About the red-billed leiothrix
This small bird is an omnivore, feeding on insects, fruit, and berries. Its adaptable diet helps it thrive in a range of habitats, including disturbed forest, where fruiting shrubs and insects provide reliable food sources. Red‑billed leiothrixes are agile foragers, moving quickly through dense vegetation as they search for food.
They are typically seen in groups of around six to twenty individuals, especially outside the breeding season. These flocks move as a cohesive unit, calling frequently to maintain contact among thick foliage. Nests are cup‑shaped and well hidden within shrubs, and chicks fledge after roughly two weeks.
Conservation
The red‑billed leiothrix is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. Although it remains widespread across China and Southeast Asia, some populations are affected by habitat loss and trapping for the cage‑bird trade. Protecting forest edges, shrublands, and secondary habitats is key to supporting healthy populations, alongside efforts to reduce illegal trapping.