Brown-winged Parrotbill (Sinosuthora brunnea) [XC103741]
by Frank Lambert from First Bend in the Yangtze River, Yunnan, China (call, calls of flock)
Brown-winged Parrotbill (Sinosuthora brunnea) [XC111276]
by Frank Lambert from First Bend in the Yangtze River, Yunnan, China (call)
Subspecies
Sometimes placed together with Spectacled Parrotbill (Sinosuthora conspicillata), Vinous-throated Parrotbill (Sinosuthora webbiana), Ashy-throated Parrotbill (Sinosuthora alphonsiana), Grey-hooded Parrotbill (Sinosuthora zappeyi), Rusty-throated Parrotbill (Sinosuthora przewalskii), Fulvous Parrotbill (Suthora fulvifrons), Black-throated Parrotbill (Suthora nipalensis), Golden Parrotbill (Suthora verreauxi) and Black-browed Parrotbill (Chleuasicus atrosuperciliaris) in a separate genus, Suthora. Considered conspecific with Vinous-throated Parrotbill (Sinosuthora webbiana) (and Ashy-throated Parrotbill (Sinosuthora alphonsiana)) by some authors, but widely accepted treatment as separate species supported by differences in skeletal features of skull. Subspecies ricketti has sometimes been given full species rank, but there is currently no evidence of overlap in range with other subspecies, as previously suggested by some authors. Further study is needed. Ranges of nominate and styani meet at southern end of Dali Valley, at least. Has been commented that latter is possibly the result of secondary intergradation, but series of museum specimens examined appeared very uniform in plumage characteristics, suggesting that it is a valid subspecies.
The following 3 subspecies are recognised:
brunneus (Anderson, 1871) - Eastern (eastern part) and central (eastern part) Myanmar east to southern China (western and north-western Yunnan west of Lijiang Range and L Er Hai).
styani (Rippon, 1903) - Dali region, in north-western Yunnan (southern China).
ricketti (Rothschild, 1922) - South-western Sichuan (from Yalong Jiang) south-west to north-western Yunnan (to Lijiang Range and area east of L Er Hai), in southern China. Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Yunnan Parrotbill (Sinosuthora ricketti).