Photo: Joseph Wolf / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Grey-backed Tailorbird
Orthotomus derbianus
Grey-backed Tailorbird (Orthotomus derbianus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Grey-backed Tailorbird (Orthotomus derbianus) is a member of the Cisticolidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 10.7 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Cisticolidae Cisticolas & Allies
- Genus Orthotomus
- Species derbianus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 10.7 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Cisticolidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Grey-backed Tailorbird is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Grey-backed Tailorbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Grey-backed Tailorbird (Orthotomus derbianus) belongs to the Cisticolidae family of the order Passeriformes. It is found across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR Luzon group (n Philippines).
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 10.7 g, with a wing length of about 4.8 cm and a tail of around 4.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 60,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Grey-backed Tailorbird?
The Grey-backed Tailorbird is a very small bird that weighs around 10.7 g.
Where does the Grey-backed Tailorbird live?
The Grey-backed Tailorbird is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR Luzon group (n Philippines), where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Grey-backed Tailorbird belong to?
The Grey-backed Tailorbird (Orthotomus derbianus) belongs to the Cisticolidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Grey-backed Tailorbird eat?
The Grey-backed Tailorbird is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Grey-backed Tailorbird migrate?
The Grey-backed Tailorbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Grey-backed Tailorbird endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Grey-backed Tailorbird make?
1 real field recording of the Grey-backed Tailorbird — including its duet — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Grey-backed Tailorbird's range?
The Grey-backed Tailorbird has a mapped global range of about 60,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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