I first encountered this species in the Tien Shan Mountains of Kazakhstan about 15 years ago when I thought it was the most beautiful species I had ever seen. It reminded me of a Lilac-breasted Roller, but in miniature as it is even smaller than a Willow Warbler. It is in the same general family as Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalidae) but there are only two species of Tit-warbler on the planet. I managed to see the other species, Crested Tit-warbler too in China but did not manage a photograph of that one. I first knew this species as Severtzov’s Tit-warbler but it now seems to be known as White-browed (Leptopoecile sophiae), although its brow is actually a pale golden yellow. Its scientific name Leptopoecile means “delicate tit” and sophiae honours Sophie, wife of Tsar Alexander II of Russia. The species occurs in a big horseshoe around the northern Himalayas. This form from Sichuan in China is subspecies obscura which has more extensive purple across its belly and flanks, and a purer blue rump. I photographed this male (females are much less colourful) at an elevation of over 4000m on Balang Mountain in Sichuan.
5 Replies to “Tim Melling – Severtzov’s Tit-warbler”
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What on earth is it perched on? The plant looks quite as extraordinary as the bird.
This was photographed on Balang Mountain, and Balangla in Tibetan apparently translates as mountain of the strange willow. The lower slopes of Balang Mountain were covered in this low growing shrub and it reminded me of a willow species, though the leaves were very small for a willow. But I was too distracted by the Lammergeiers, Golden Eagles and Snow Pigeons to pay it the attention it deserved.
I have just looked and this other photograph shows it is definitely a willow species, with catkins as well. But I’m still not sure of the species.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/timmelling/40082159771/sizes/m/
Thanks for checking. Interesting. Willows are an amazingly diverse genus. Can understand you focusing mostly on the birds though!
Tim, when I saw one in 1983 in the Tien Shan I think it was Stolytskas Tit-Warbler, wasn’t it ? Lovely photo – but I’m sure you’d agree the bird is even more spectacular – for me, it exploded Dartford like out of a bush (can’t remember if it was a funny willow !) in a rhapsody of almost unbelievable mauves & purples and, nit having revised carefully enough I had absolutely no idea whatsoever what it was – whatever it was, it was a stunner !