White-browed Tit
Poecile superciliosus
白眉山雀
Introduction
Small passerine bird in the tit family Paridae. Endemic to the mountain forests of central China and Tibet. Inhabits alpine shrub forests of Berberis, Rhamnus, Rhododendron, and Salix at 3,200–4,235 m altitude, descending in winter to coniferous forests dominated by Picea. Molecular phylogenetic studies indicate it is sister to the sombre tit (Poecile lugubris). The species has occasionally been considered a subspecies of the North American mountain chickadee despite being on a different continent, reflecting its remarkably similar plumage pattern.
Description
A small tit measuring 13.5–14 cm in length and weighing 10–12 g. The plumage closely resembles that of the North American mountain chickadee, with distinctive rusty brown breast and cheeks (rather than white), and a notably longer and more sharply defined white eyebrow stripe. The upperparts are a richer brown compared to the greyish-brown of the mountain chickadee.
Identification
Very similar in plumage pattern to the mountain chickadee (Poecile gambeli) of western North America. The key distinguishing features are the rusty brown coloration on the breast and cheeks (white in mountain chickadee), the longer and more sharply defined white eyebrow, and the richer brown upperparts (greyish-brown in mountain chickadee). Despite the superficial resemblance, the species is not closely related and inhabits a different continent.
Distribution & Habitat
Endemic to the high mountain forests of central China and Tibet. During the breeding season, it occurs in alpine shrub forests at elevations of 3,200–4,235 meters. In winter, it descends to slightly lower elevations where it inhabits coniferous forests, primarily those dominated by Picea spruce species.
Behavior & Ecology
Breeds in alpine shrub habitats containing Berberis, Rhamnus, Rhododendron, and Salix. The nest is constructed on the ground, typically placed in rock crevices or abandoned rodent burrows.
Conservation
IUCN conservation status and population information not provided in source material.
Culture
No cultural significance or folklore information provided in source material.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Paridae
- Genus
- Poecile
- eBird Code
- whbtit4
Distribution
mountains of western China (Qinghai to southeastern Tibet, Gansu, and Sichuan)
Data Sources
Species description from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Bird images and sounds sourced from GBIF, contributed by citizen scientists worldwide under Creative Commons licenses.
Taxonomy data from AviList 2025.