Tailorbirds are small birds, most belonging to the genus Orthotomus. While they were often placed in the Old World warbler family Sylviidae, recent research suggests they more likely belong in the Cisticolidae and they are treated as such in Del Hoyo et al.[1] One former species, the mountain tailorbird (and therefore also its sister species rufous-headed tailorbird), is actually closer to an old world warbler genus Cettia.[2]
They occur in the Old World tropics, principally in Asia.
These warblers are usually brightly colored, with green or grey upper parts and yellow white or grey under parts. They often have chestnut on the head.
Tailorbirds have short rounded wings, short tails, strong legs and long curved bills. The tail is typically held upright, like a wren. They are typically found in open woodland, scrub and gardens.
Tailorbirds get their name from the way their nest is constructed. The edges of a large leaf are pierced and sewn together with plant fibre or spider's web to make a cradle in which the actual grass nest is built.
The genus contains 13 species:[3]
| Image | Common Name | Scientific Name | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common tailorbird | Orthotomus sutorius | China, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, and Vietnam | |
| Dark-necked tailorbird | Orthotomus atrogularis | Bangladesh, Northeast India, and Southeast Asia | |
| Cambodian tailorbird | Orthotomus chaktomuk[4] | Cambodia | |
| Philippine tailorbird | Orthotomus castaneiceps | Philippines | |
| Trilling tailorbird | Orthotomus chloronotus | Philippines | |
| Rufous-fronted tailorbird | Orthotomus frontalis | eastern Philippines | |
| Grey-backed tailorbird | Orthotomus derbianus | Philippines (Palawan, Luzon, and Catanduanes) | |
| Rufous-tailed tailorbird | Orthotomus sericeus | Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand | |
| Ashy tailorbird | Orthotomus ruficeps | Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam | |
| Olive-backed tailorbird | Orthotomus sepium | Indonesia (Java, Madura Island, Bali and Lombok) | |
| Yellow-breasted tailorbird | Orthotomus samarensis | Philippines | |
| Black-headed tailorbird | Orthotomus nigriceps | Philippines (Mindanao, Dinagat, and Siargao) | |
| White-eared tailorbird | Orthotomus cinereiceps | Philippines (Basilan and West Mindanao) | |
Two species moved to the Cettiidae: