Rufous-headed tailorbird

Rufous-headed tailorbird
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Cettiidae
Genus:	Phyllergates
Species:	P. heterolaemus
Binomial name
Phyllergates heterolaemus Mearns, 1905
Synonyms
Orthotomus heterolaemus

The rufous-headed tailorbird (Phyllergates heterolaemus) is a species of bird in the family Cettiidae. It is found only in the Philippines. Its natural habitats are in tropical moist montane forest.

EBird describes the bird as "A small, long-billed, long-tailed bird of montane forest and scrub on Mindanao, with an olive back, wings, and tail, a yellow belly, a rufous head, and a pale buff throat and chest. Often cocks its tail. Juvenile has an olive rather than rufous head. Similar in shape and habits to other tailorbirds on Mindanao, but occurs at higher elevations, and has a yellow belly and rufous head. Song consists of very short, well spaced, varied phrases of fairly long, high-pitched piping notes."^[2]

It was formerly conspecific with the Mountain tailorbird but differs greatly in plumage.

Diet is presusmed to be tiny invertebrates. Typically seen in pairs or small family parties deep within tangled vegetation. Relative to the Mountain tailorbird, it does not cock its tail as much.

No information is known about its breeding.

The species inhabits forest understorey and edge, second growth and grassy clearings at altitude over 1,000 meters above sea level. The IUCN has assessed this species Least Concern. Despite its limited range, it is said to be locally common. However, its population is declining. It is still affected by habitat loss through deforestation, mining, land conversion and slash-and-burn. Relative to lowland forest, Mindanao's montane forest has stayed relatively intact due to its relative inaccessibility and ruggedness. ^[3]