Emei Shan liocichla explained

The Emei Shan liocichla (Liocichla omeiensis), also known as the Omei Shan or grey-faced liocichla, is a passerine bird in the family Leiothrichidae. It is closely related to the Bugun liocichla, a species only described in 2006, and which it closely resembles.

Habitat

The species is endemic to forests^[1] in mountain ranges in Southern Sichuan, China. It is an altitudinal migrant, spending the summer months above 1000 m and moving below 600m in the winter. It is often found in thick bamboo and deep scrub forests.

Description

The Emei Shan liocichla is an olive-grey coloured bird with red wing patches. The plumage on the face is grey with a slight red ring on each side of the face.

Diet

The species feeds in the undergrowth of semi-tropical rainforest. It is an herbivore.^[2]

Threats

The Emei Shan liocichla is considered vulnerable by the IUCN. It is threatened by habitat loss through logging and conversion to agriculture. Some populations are protected inside reserves, such as the Emei Shan Protected Scenic Site.

Vocalization

Individual males have very distinct songs, and can be identified by their vocalizations. They whistle loudly and in complex patterns during breeding seasons to maintain their territories. Females do not vocalize.

Breeding

Its nesting success has decreased as a result of habitat loss.^[3] After disturbances, Emei Shan liocichlas tend to place their nests higher (in taller plants or on higher parts of the plants), or in thornier trees, presumably to protect against further disturbances.

References

• Birdlife International Bugun Liocichla: a sensational discovery in north-east IndiaDownloaded from on 12/9/2006
• BirdLife International (2006) Species factsheet: Liocichla omeiensis. Downloaded from https://web.archive.org/web/20240303201308/https://www.birdlife.org/ on 12/9/2006
• Collar, N. J. & Robson C. 2007. Family Timaliidae (Babblers) pp. 70 – 291 in; del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. & Christie, D.A. eds. Handbook of the Birds of the World, Vol. 12. Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.

External links

• Image at ADW

Notes and References

1. Kong . Chiping . Wu . Yongheng . Lou . Shangling . Chen . Benping . Dowell . Simon D. . Fu . Yiqiang . 2020 . Individual Identification Based on the Songs of the Emei Shan Liocichla (Liocichla omeiensis) . Pakistan Journal of Zoology . 52 . 2 . 10.17582/journal.pjz/20170510120508 . 0030-9923. free .
2. Huang . R . Li . L . Song . B . Lyu . Y . Wu . B . 2020 . Appearance and Digestive System Comparison of Lonchura Striata and Copsychus Saularis: Searching for the Effect of Staple Feeding Ingredients on Avian Morphology . Brazilian Journal of Poultry Science . 22 . 4 . 10.1590/1806-9061-2020-1308 . 1806-9061. free .
3. Fu . Yiqiang . Xu . Yuanyuan . Wang . Shufang . Dowell . Simon D. . Zhang . Zhengwang . 2022-04-12 . Threatened songbird Liocichla omeiensis impacted by climate‐induced outbreak of the moth Pantana phyllostachysae: An example of the impact of climate change through multi‐species interactions . Conservation Science and Practice . 4 . 6 . 10.1111/csp2.12691 . 2578-4854. free .