Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010) and decreasing.
Status NT
Deforestation through clearing by shifting cultivation, charcoal burning and fuelwood collection, is the main threat.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Yellow-billed Nuthatch (Sitta solangiae) [XC163675]
by Frank Lambert from Jianfengling, Hainan, China (song)
Yellow-billed Nuthatch (Sitta solangiae) [XC723950]
by Dave GUO from Hainan, China (call)
Subspecies
Sometimes placed with Velvet-fronted Nuthatch (Sitta frontalis) and Sulphur-billed Nuthatch (Sitta oenochlamys) in a separate genus, Oenositta. They may form a superspecies and have at times been considered conspecific. Present species, however, occurs together with Velvet-fronted Nuthatch (Sitta frontalis) in Vietnam, overlapping in both range and altitude in north-western Tonkin (Fan Si Pan Range) and southern Annam (Da Lat Plateau). Relationship with Sulphur-billed Nuthatch (Sitta oenochlamys) more problematic, but Hainan subspecies chienfengensis of present species may form link between the two (both are yellow-billed, whereas Velvet-fronted Nuthatch (Sitta frontalis) has red bill). Population of this species recently found on Kon Tum Plateau-Lo Xo pass area of Vietnam and adjacent south-eastern Laos (Xe Sap region, in Xe Kong Province) of unknown subspecies. Further study is required.
The following 3 subspecies are recognised:
solangiae (Delacour & Jabouille, 1930) - Northern Vietnam (Fan Si Pan Range, in north-western Tonkin).
chienfengensis Cheng, Ting & Wang, 1964 - Southern Hainan I, in southern China.
fortior Delacour & Greenway, 1939 - Da Lat Plateau (Langbian Plateau), in southern Vietnam (south-central Annam).
BirdLife International Species Factsheet