Red-billed Leiothrix

Red-billed Leiothrix on a lichen covered branch. Himalayan foothills, Uttrakhand, India.

About the Red-billed Leiothrix:

The red-billed leiothrix (Leiothrix lutea) is a member of the family Leiothrichidae, native to Southern China and the Himalayas. These colourful birds can be seen in jungles throughout the Himalayan range up to 7500ft.

Adult birds have striking bright red bills and a yellow throat and ring around their eyes. They have been introduced in various parts of the world, with a small population of escapees having existed in Japan since the 1980s. The Leiothrix is a common cagebird and is known by enthusiasts by various names: Pekin robin, Pekin nightingale, Japanese nightingale, and Japanese (hill) robin.

The Leiothrix is typically found in high altitude hill forests with dense undergrowth in parts of  India, Bhutan, Nepal, Burma and Tibet. 

Find out more about the Red-billed Leiothrix here