Sultan Tit

The Sultan Tit, a striking bird of Asian forests, is adorned with a vibrant yellow crest, a dark bill, and contrasting plumage—black upperparts and vivid yellow underparts. Both sexes exhibit a similar appearance, though the female's upperparts are tinged with greenish-black and her throat is more yellowish. Juveniles are somewhat duller than adults and possess a shorter crest.

Identification Tips

Adult males boast a brilliant yellow forehead and crown, with a recumbent crest that becomes erect when the bird is alert or alarmed. Their deep black upper plumage is glossed with green and has a metallic sheen, while the outermost tail feathers are tipped with white. The lower plumage from the breast downward is a deep yellow, with the thighs showing white bars or mottling. Females have duller yellow parts, dark greenish-brown upper plumage, and a chin and throat glossed with dark olive-green. The young resemble females but lack the bright edges on the upper plumage of adults, and their greater wing coverts are edged with white.

Habitat

Sultan Tits are inhabitants of the mid and upper canopy of forests, where they forage either alone or in small groups.

Distribution

This species is found from Central Nepal through the eastern Himalayas to North-eastern Bangladesh, Myanmar, northern Thailand, and Southern China. It extends down the Malay Peninsula and is not found above 4,000 feet of elevation.

Behaviour

Sultan Tits are known for their slow, fluttery flight and their foraging habits, which include a diet of insects and occasionally figs. They are also known to panic in captivity when exposed to unusual noise or other species, a behavior not typical of other Paridae members.

Song & Calls

Their vocal repertoire includes a variety of calls such as a rattling "chi-dip, tri-trip," harsh explosive hissing calls, and squeaky repeated "wheet" whistles, all of which have a tit-like quality.

Breeding

The breeding season in India spans from April to July. Sultan Tits nest in tree cavities, which they line before laying a clutch of five to seven eggs.

Similar Species

While the Sultan Tit is the sole member of its genus, it can be distinguished from other tits by its unique yellow crest and the absence of feathers covering its nostrils.

Diet and Feeding

Their diet primarily consists of caterpillars, but they also consume small berries on occasion.

Conservation Status

The Sultan Tit is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, indicating a stable population across its wide distribution range.