These fluffy and colorful birds are called the black-throated bushtit, and yes, you read that right.
Also known as the black-throated tit, this creature is a small passerine bird in the Aegithalidae family. They are only about 4 inches (10.5 centimeters) small and weigh only 4 to 9 grams.
Wildlife photographer Chen Chengguang photographed these beautiful birds in ways that really do them great justice.
While there is a considerable racial variation in their layer of feathers, all subspecies have a medium length tail, a black ‘bandit mask’ around their eyes, and a black throat, according to Wikipedia.
The nominate race has a white belly, a chestnut cap, dark grey back wings, tail, and back, and breast band and flanks. Others have the same pattern except for the chest band but with grey bellies, caps and flanks.
Black-throated bushtit’s habitat ranges from the foothills of the Himalayas, stretching to northern India and north-eastern Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, northern Vietnam, Myanmar, and Taiwan.
Disjunct populations were also seen in Hainan island in China and further north up to the Yellow River. Their nest is made out of lichen and moss and hangs from tree branches.
Black-throated bushtits are highly social and usually travel in flocks of up to 40 birds. They feed on spiders, small insects, berries, fruits, and small seeds.
One internet user commented: “Beautiful! However if they were in a film they would definitely be the baddies. They look all mysterious and baddy like.”
Another wrote: “What a beautiful bird, what a personality. I hope that “people” in those countries don’t catch them in nets and kill them for “so delicious”, just like “people” in Latin America do to singing, migratory birds.”
A third added: “I wonder if these birds had any influence on the Angry Birds characters? Fabulous details in the action photos!”
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