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Features
Formosan yuhinas often congregate and are
most often seen in groups of ten. They are often found in mid-to-upper
canopy, playing among trigs and leaves and nibbling at nectar,
fruits and insects. Sometimes they mingle with other birds,
such as Gray-cheeked fulvetta, Green-backed tit and Red-headed
tit. Their breeding season starts in March or April and lasts
through August or September. They build bowl-like nests mainly
with moss, ferns, flower clusters of manyflower silver and thin
root. They attach their nests to dense branches with spider
silk and weave the cavity bottom with withered fern leaves.
The nest is about 90-100m wide and 45-60mm high with a diameter
of 50-60mm and a depth of 35-40mm. Females usually lay 4-8 eggs
at one time. The eggs (18x14mm) are pale blue green with yellowish
brown spots, chiefly around the larger end and in ring-like
or radial arrangement. Formosan yuhinas exhibit cooperative
breeding behavior; that is, several pairs of parents share a
single nest and defend their territory together. The group of
parents consist of 3-7 members, with an optimal size of 4.
Habitat:
Formosan Yuhinas are endemic to Taiwan and usually found
in mountain areas at altitudes around 1,000-3,000m. They mainly
inhabit mid-to-upper tree canopy in mixed and broad-leaved forests.
They often migrate to low-altitude areas in cold winter. |
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