White-tailed Robin

Myiomela leucura

The small woodland songbird flashes its brilliant white tail feathers while hopping between branches in Asia's mountain forests.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The White-tailed Robin has two distinct varieties. The standard variety's male has a striking bluish-black plumage with shiny mid-blue features on its forehead and shoulders, complemented by a distinctive white tail pattern that covers about two-thirds of the outer tail feathers. A small white neck patch is sometimes visible.

Females are quite different, appearing primarily mouse-brown above and buff-brown below, with the same white tail pattern as males. They also show a subtle white throat crescent. The Cambodian variety is similar but slightly smaller, with males appearing more slaty blue and females showing darker, more olive-toned colouring.

Both varieties share black bills and legs across all plumages.

Size

Length

16cm to 18cm

Wingspan

24cm to 28cm

Weight

20g to 30g

Colours

Male Female

Primary Colour

Blue

Secondary Colour

Black White

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Black

Primary Colour (Female)

Brown

Secondary Colour (Female)

Grey Buff White

Beak Colour (Female)

Black

Leg Colour (Female)

Black

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The White-tailed Robin can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The White-tailed Robin is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The White-tailed Robin is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The White-tailed Robin is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The White-tailed Robin is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The White-tailed Robin is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The White-tailed Robin is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The White-tailed Robin is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The White-tailed Robin is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The White-tailed Robin is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The White-tailed Robin can be found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The White-tailed Robin is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

White-tailed Robins inhabit subtropical and temperate montane forests across parts of South and Southeast Asia. They are found in countries such as India, Nepal, Bhutan, and parts of China, typically at elevations between 500 and 2,700 meters.

These birds prefer dense undergrowth in evergreen and mixed deciduous forests, often near streams or in areas with high humidity. They are non-migratory, maintaining their territories year-round in suitable habitats.

Elevation Range

500 to 2,700 meters

Climate zones

Subtropical, Temperate

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a White-tailed Robin. 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