A White-bellied Erpornis (Erpornis zantholeuca) perched on a small branch in the forest in North Eastern Thailand


The White-bellied Erpornis (Erpornis zantholeuca) or simply Erpornis is the only member of the genus Erpornis. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. Formerly placed in Yuhina and often still misleadingly called "white-bellied yuhina", it is the most distinct member of this "genus". It is by no means closely related to the Timaliidae (Old World Babblers), where most of the former members of Yuhina are still placed. The Timaliidae are members of the superfamily Sylvioidea in infraorder Passeri, whereas the erpornis is the closest relative of the vireos (Vireonidae), which are a more ancient lineage of songbirds. Indeed, it now is usually included in the Vireonidae as one of their few Old World representatives.


Size: 3878px × 2592px
Location: Phu Suan Sai, Loei, Thailand
Photo credit: © Robert Kennett / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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