Rufous-tailed Tailorbird

Orthotomus sericeus

The master seamstress of Southeast Asian forests stitches leaves into intricate nests using nothing but its beak and found plant fibres.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Rufous-tailed Tailorbird is a small bird with a bright chestnut hood and rufous tail. The upperparts are dark ashy grey, while its throat and underparts are creamy white, with a slight cinnamon wash on the breast and flanks. It has a relatively long, slightly curved bill and pinkish legs.

Males and females appear nearly identical, except females have black markings on their tail feathers. Juveniles have olive-brown upperparts with a subtle rufous crown, and their tails are duller with black markings. They also show a creamy underside with a pale yellow tinge.

Size

Length

10cm to 13.5cm

Wingspan

14cm to 16cm

Weight

6g to 9g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Brown Grey

Secondary Colour

White Rufous

Beak Colour

Grey

Leg Colour

Pink

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Rufous-tailed Tailorbird can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Rufous-tailed Tailorbird is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Rufous-tailed Tailorbird is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Rufous-tailed Tailorbird is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Rufous-tailed Tailorbird is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Rufous-tailed Tailorbird is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Rufous-tailed Tailorbird is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Rufous-tailed Tailorbird is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Rufous-tailed Tailorbird is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Rufous-tailed Tailorbird can be found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Rufous-tailed Tailorbird is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Rufous-tailed Tailorbird is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Rufous-tailed Tailorbirds inhabit tropical and subtropical lowland forests, secondary growth, and forest edges across Southeast Asia. They are found in countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

These birds are year-round residents in their range, showing no significant seasonal movements. They adapt well to various forest types but prefer areas with dense understory vegetation.

Elevation Range

Up to 1,550 meters

Climate zones

Tropical, Subtropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Rufous-tailed Tailorbird. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons