Velvet-fronted Nuthatch

Scientific Name: Sitta frontalis
Malay Name: Pepatuk Biasa
Chinese Name: 绒额䴓

Range:
From Peninsula India through mainland Asia to Sundaland and west Philippines.

Taxonomy:
Polytypic. Subspecies are: frontalis, saturatior, velata, corallipes, palawana.

Size: 12-13.5 cm

Identification:
Bright blue upperparts, pale underparts, with black forehead and bright red legs and bill quite unlike any other species in Singapore. Bill colour is paler in juveniles.

Habitat: Healthy Forest

Behaviour/Ecology: Often observed foraging along the barks and branches of trees alone or in pairs, frequently running upside down. Also observed in mixed flocks elsewhere in its range.

Local Status: Non-breeding visitor

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)

Past accepted records in our database:

Photos:

Velvet-fronted Nuthatch at Johor. Photo credit: Keita Sin

External Links:
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page ↗
Photos: Oriental Bird Images ↗
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link ↗
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link ↗
eBird Species page: eBird (Velvet-fronted Nuthatch) ↗

References:
BirdLife International. (2016). Sitta frontalis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22711216A94283983.en. Accessed on 19 December 2021
Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.