Fauna
Bird

Common Tailorbird

Orthotomus sutorius

Also known as Indian Tailorbird

Common tailorbirds are energetic, wren-sized songbirds celebrated for their architectural skill in stitching live leaves together using plant fibers and spider silk to form a sheltered nest cradle. They forage restlessly through low undergrowth with their narrow tails cocked upright, flicking incessantly as they glean small invertebrates from foliage. Their remarkably loud, ringing calls carry far across suburban gardens and scrub, frequently betraying their presence long before they are spotted.

SongbirdNest BuilderGarden Resident
Common Tailorbird reference
(c) Parth Kansara, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Parth Kansara · cc-by
—observations
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—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyCaterpillars, Small beetles, Spiders
Predators
  • Domestic cat
  • House Crow
  • Oriental garden lizard
ThreatsPesticide application reducing insect prey and predation by domestic cats
HabitatsUrban gardens, shrubby parks, forest edges, and rural cultivation
Life span3–5 years
Classification
  1. OrderPasseriformes
  2. FamilyCisticolidae
  3. GenusOrthotomus
  4. SpeciesOrthotomus sutorius
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Listen First: Locate their presence by tracking their piercing, repetitive 'towit-towit' calls from garden thickets.
  • Watch the Undergrowth: Focus binoculars on dense, low shrubbery where their upright, twitching tails give away movement.
  • Preserve Foliage: Maintain dense, broadleaf shrubs in tropical gardens to provide safe nesting sites.
Related species
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