Zomi Sitta Victoriae

WHITE-BROWED NUTHATCH


Source: Birdbase

This nuthatch is known from just one small area of mountain and is inferred to have a small,

declining range which qualifies it as Endangered.

DISTRIBUTION The White-browed Nuthatch is entirely restricted to the Chin hills of

Myanmar, in the region of Mount Victoria. Records are from:

 MYANMAR Mindat, three, April 1995 (Oriental Bird Club Bull. 22 [1995]: 57–62, Robson

et al. 1998); Mount Victoria, 2,300–2,750 m, April 1904 (five in BMNH, Rippon 1904), April–

June 1938 (Stresemann and Heinrich 1940), up to 14 around the summit, April 1995 (Oriental

Bird Club Bull. 22 [1995]: 57–62, Robson et al. 1998).

POPULATION Although almost nothing has been published about the population of this

species, the general impression is that it is fairly common in its limited range (Stresemann

and Heinrich 1940, C. R. Robson verbally 1998). In April 2000, however, the species was

found only five times in a two-week period of observation at Mount Victoria, and was thus

regarded as sparse (P. Alström verbally 2000).
 
 
Threatened birds of Asia


ECOLOGY Habitat The species is found from the “upper half of the Alpine region to the

summit” of Mount Victoria, apparently being “narrowly circumscribed” in its vertical

distribution, but presumably descending during the dry (and cold) season (Stresemann and

Heinrich 1940). The span of altitude is given variously as 2,500–3,000 m (Stresemann and

Heinrich 1940), 2,300–2,800 m (BMNH label data, Baker 1922–1930), and mostly below

2,500 m (P. Alström verbally 2000); differences may relate to seasonal movements. According

to Stresemann and Heinrich (1940) it “inhabits the moss forest and avoids the pines”.

Food There is no information, but it appears to forage primarily along the thinner outer

branches of trees (P. Alström verbally 2000), presumably in search of insects.

Breeding Recently fledged young were found at 2,600 m on 28 April (Stresemann and

Heinrich 1940).

Migration The species is presumably resident (Smythies 1986), although some altitudinal

movement is probably involved with birds descending in the cold season (Stresemann and

Heinrich 1940).

THREATS The White-browed Nuthatch is one of nine threatened members of the suite of

19 bird species that are entirely restricted to the “Eastern Himalayas Endemic Bird Area”,

threats and conservation measures in which are profiled by Stattersfield et al. (1998). Forest

on Mount Victoria has been almost completely cleared to 2,000 m and is degraded to 2,500 m;

whilst high-quality forest remains above this altitude, the White-browed Nuthatch is

apparently (at least seasonally) commonest below 2,500 m (P. Alström verbally 2000).

MEASURES TAKEN The species is listed as a totally protected species in Myanmar under

the Wildlife Act 1994. Mount Victoria lies within Natma Taung National Park (Khin Ma

Ma Thwin in litt. 1998), although it is not clear how effective this protected area is likely

to be.

MEASURES PROPOSED Natma Taung National Park is potentially very important for

this species and many others, but this is dependent on it being properly managed and protected

(King et al. 1996, Robson et al. 1998).