02/06/2026
On my previous trips to Sichuan I have seen the smart endemic Sooty Bushtit at Tangjiahe, where they are relatively common. On this trip, with Tangjiahe not on the itinerary, it seemed we would have to find them at Wolong, where they are regularly recorded. They took some finding, but eventually we found a few. However I was immediately struck by their strange appearance, and soon suspected they were hybrids. It would seem (and this is my unproven yet likely theory) that man made habitats and extensive habitat modification has allowed Black-browed Bushtit to push north into Sichuan, where they have clearly met and hybridized with Sooty Bushtits in some areas, including extensively around Wolong! Checking eBird, it appears that nearly all photos from the Wolong area depict hybrids, and have done for several years, something most birders ignore or failed to notice??!! To demonstrate what the hybrids look like, below are a (bonvaloti) Black-browed Bushtit from Yunnan, May 26, a Sooty x Black-browed Bushtit from Wolong (Lamasary), May 26, and a Sooty Bushtit from the Jiuzhaigou area, May 26. Note the intermediate characters of the hybrid such as pale crown stripe and moustachial, dark brow, and extensive colour on the underparts. Food for thought!! Pete
