The
Steere's liocichla has a body length of 17-19cm and a wing length
of 7-8cm. Both males and females have the same coloring: grayish-black
heads with yellow foreheads; olive green backs; grayish-black
rumps; black tail feathers with white tips; and olive yellow
faces, sides of their necks, chests, abdomens, and the base
of their flight feathers. In addition, their faces and the sides
of their necks also have a few orange-yellow feathers mixed
in with them; their lower abdomens are a dark grayish-green;
their lower tail coverts are yellow; the edges of their secondary
feathers have fine white lines; and their tertiary feathers
are chestnut brown. Steere's liocichla have brownish-black beaks,
brown legs and feet, and a trademark orange and yellow "beauty
mark" on their cheeks.
Behavior:
Steere's
liocichla make a resonant call that sounds like the Chinese
phrase "ma-jin lai," which translates into "mother,
come in." Their diet consists primarily of insects, though
the birds will also eat ripe fruits and invertebrates. A gregarious
bird, Steere's liocichla like to mingle with other bird groups.
They have a rather long breeding season, which starts in April
or May and ends around September. Their nests are built approximately
one meter above the ground in scrubs, and females typically
lay a clutch of three to four oval-shaped eggs that are olive
green in color with brown spots. Steere's liocichla are not
afraid of humans and are often seen in groups either among thick
shrubs or popping back and forth across hiking paths like rats.
Habitat:
Steere's
liocichla are endemic to Taiwan and commonly found on the floors
of broad-leaved forests at middle and high altitudes, usually
at 700-2500m elevations. They are also common amongst thick
shrubs and forests in the Hsitou area.
