Passeriformes / Remizidae / Remiz
Chinese Penduline Tit
Remiz consobrinus · 中华攀雀
Introduction
A species in the family Remizidae, native to Manchuria. It inhabits open fields, wetlands, reedbeds, and marshes. Distinctive traits include constructing characteristic penduline nests and exhibiting acrobatic foraging behavior. The IUCN assesses its conservation status as Least Concern with an increasing population.
Description
Length is 11 cm. Small, pale birds with a fine-pointed bill. Sexes differ: males have a greyish crown and nape, a black mask from the forehead edged white, and a chestnut mantle, half-collar, and wing-coverts contrasting with dark wings and black tail. Underparts are whitish marked with buff. Females have a brown mask and browner upperparts lacking chestnut.
Identification
Key marks include the male's black mask edged white and chestnut upperparts, contrasting with the female's brown mask and lack of chestnut. In flight, dark wings and black tail are visible. Vocalization is a very thin drawn-out 'tseeoo' or 'sseeoo'.
Distribution & Habitat
Native to Manchuria. Winters sparsely throughout eastern Asia, specifically along the Yangtze river valley and southern China. Habitats include reedbeds, marshes, agricultural pastures, and wetlands with brackish ponds.
Behavior & Ecology
Insectivorous, feeding on insects, larvae, spiders, caterpillars, and small seeds in winter. Often found in flocks of 10 to 20. Acrobatic climber, capable of suspending by one leg while feeding. Males select nest sites in trees 3 to 15 m high. Nests are pear-shaped purses with a tubular appendix and lateral entrance. Females lay 5 to 10 eggs, incubating alone for 12 to 15 days. Fledglings return to the nest to sleep for 15 to 20 days before leaving.
Conservation
Population is increasing. Assessed by the IUCN as Least Concern.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Remizidae
- Genus
- Remiz
Taxonomy Changes
Aegithalos consobrinus → Remiz consobrinus
Genus transfer — GBIF Backbone Taxonomy uses the former name; AviList 2025 uses the current name.
Distribution
breeds reedbeds and marshes of northern China; winters to southern China
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.
