Black Chinned Yuhina

Scientific Name: Yuhina nigrimenta

Origin: Himalayas

This is a lively, inquisitive bird that is very entertaining when it raises its small crest. It lives contentedly with sugar birds and tanagers. The subfamily of the bird is Timaliidae. The bird is one of the largest bird breed family that has variety of species that cover a global area of about 1,000,000-10,000,000 kmІ. Though the exact number of the bird has not been calculated but its presence in almost all part of the globe is quite frequent. The bird is accounted as the least concerned bird as it is not included in the list of IUCN Red List. The IUCN Red List consists of the names of the species whose population is declining at a rapid pace of more than 30% of their existing population during the last thirty years or three generations.

The bird is commonly found in the countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal and Vietnam. The natural habitat of the bird is tropical and sub-tropical forests and lowlands. The bird is also found in the moist montanes or the highlands just below the sub alpine zone.

Description:

Size: 10 cm (4 in)

COCK:

Body: dark olive brown. Chest: grey-white. Stomach: buff. Crest and chin: black. Beak: brown and orange. Legs:brown.

HEN:

The hen looks similar to the cock. As a result of which the bird can not be easily recognized based on their physical appearance. The only way to determine thesex of the bird is to by keenly watching the behavioral characteristics of the bird. Observe the behavior to identify the cock bird. The cock is generally very aggressive in nature. They become defensive if any other bird intrudes into his territory and even end up fighting against birds that are almost twice of its size.

Diet: (Softbill)

Fruit, including pears, grapes and sweet oranges, form the basis of the diet. It also enjoys sponge cake soaked in a honey and water mixture and small berries. Small live insects can also be provided.

The Yuhina needs careful acclimatization. It should be housed in a planted garden aviary or conservatory and needs a dry, frost-proof shelter in damp and cold weather. It can withstand fairly low temperatures, but does not tolerate high level of dampness.

Breeding:

The bird is very particular about breeding young ones. Yuhina pairs are not keen on breeding unless housed on their own. They usually build nests in shrubs or climbing plants, using fine grasses and roots.

Few eggs are laid, three being the maximum. Incubation takes for around 16days. Plenty of small live insects must be provided for rearing, including fruit flies. If available, aphids, black fly and house-flies should be offered as the bird enjoys feeding on them. Mealworms and maggots can also be given to the birds to eat. But the meal worms and the maggots should be chopped finely as otherwise the bird might face difficulty eating the food.

So, if you are willing to keep the bird as your pet you are required to arrange for a bird aviary that would be ideal for the bird to breed by introducing tree branches, stones and creating highlands in order to turn the aviary an artificial natural habitat for the bird.