Rufous-headed Robin

Rotkopfnachtigall

The Rotkopfnachtigall (Luscinia ruficeps ) is a species of bird in the genus Luscinia within the family of flycatchers. It occurs in China.

Features

The Rotkopfnachtigall reached a size of 15 centimeters. The wing length is 79-81 mm, tail length 52 to 56 mm, the run length 27 mm and the First beak length 16 up to 17.5 mm. In adult males the top of the head and the neck are brownish orange. The top and the wing-coverts are slate gray. The dark slaty flight feathers have slate-gray Außensäume. The upper tail-coverts are slate black. The outer tail feathers are rust- brown with black tips. The mean control spring pair is slate black. The face is black. The pure white throat is limited by two wide black stripes and a semi-circular, black throat band. The belly center, and the under tail-coverts are white. The under wing-coverts are ash-gray with white lace and hem. The narrow Innensäume the flight feathers are reddish white. The iris is reddish brown, the bill is slate black. The feet are reddish yellow-brown. In the female, the top and the tail are olive-brown. Head and upper tail-coverts are more rust. The flight feathers are dark brown with olive-brown outer webs. The underside is white. The throat is rahmfarben more. The throat and breast feathers have gray seams. The flanks are olive brown.

Dissemination

The occurrence of Rotkopfnachtigall is limited to the central Chinese provinces of Sichuan and Shaanxi. There are four known breeding areas. The wintering areas could be either in Indonesia or Malaysia since 1963 in this country, a single individual was sighted.

Habitat

The Rotkopfnachtigall inhabits temperate mixed forests at altitudes 2400-2800 meters and denuded scrub on outwash plains, caused by flash floods.

Way of life

The lifestyle of Rotkopfnachtigall is been explored very little. On one occasion in the stomach of a male an earthworm and plant parts was found. Another time, a male was observed when it was looking in the mud for food. On 28 June 1995 a nest with four eggs was discovered 45 inches above the floor in a 5 meter high tree on a moss-covered crotch. On 6 August 1994, a nest was observed fledged young birds that have been supplied by the male with food. On August 8, the nest was already left. The observation of a single individual in Malaysia in March 1963 might suggest that the Rotkopfnachtigall wintered either in this country or in Indonesia. In the breeding areas in China, it has been demonstrated between mid - May and early August.

Inventory and risk

BirdLife International classifies the Rotkopfnachtigall into the category " endangered" ( vulnerable ) and estimates the stock between 2,500 and 10,000 copies. As the main threat to the loss and fragmentation of forests apply. Since the late 1960s, the forest cover in Sichuan has declined sharply due to the timber production and conversion to agricultural used land and pasture. It is believed that substantial areas are lost by moderate forests. Even in protected areas, including the Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve takes place limited logging. In two valleys dams were built for flood control. If the Rotkopfnachtigall is really reliant on habitats in mountain valleys, caused by periodic flash floods, the ongoing flood regulation could adversely affect the habitats of the species. In the event that the species overwinters in the primary lowland forests of the Sunda Islands, habitat loss could be a huge burden on the population.