Common Iora

Overview

The common iora (Aegithina tiphia) is a small passerine bird found across the tropical Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Populations show plumage variations, with eleven subspecies currently recognised.

Identification

• Small passerine with a pointed and notched beak featuring a straight culmen.
• Sexually dimorphic: males in breeding season have a black cap, back, wing and tail, while females have greenish wings and an olive tail.
• Both sexes have yellow undersides; males display two prominent white wing bars during breeding plumage.
• Call is a mixture of churrs, chattering and whistles, with a song described as a trilled 'wheeeee-tee'.

Habitat

Found in scrub and forest environments across the tropical Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. The range extends from south and east India to Myanmar, China, Indochina, the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, Bali, Borneo, and the western Philippines.

Diet

Forages in trees in small groups, often joining mixed-species feeding flocks. Gleans among the branches for insects and may imitate the calls of other birds such as drongos.

Did you know?

During the breeding season, males perform an acrobatic courtship display by darting up into the air, fluffing their feathers to appear as a multi-coloured ball, and spiralling down to their original perch.