Birds · Passeriformes · Leiothrichidae

Chinese Hwamei

Garrulax canorus

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The Chinese hwamei is a brown bird of the Asian understorey with a white eye-ring drawn out into a line behind the eye. It is one of the most prized songbirds in China, where it has been kept in cages for centuries for its powerful, varied song. That demand has emptied entire populations and has driven a considerable illegal trade.

Weight

50 g – 75 g

Size

21 cm – 25 cm

Lifespan

12 years

Diet

Omnivore

Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

In pairs

Usually lives in pairs, sometimes for life.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

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Fun facts

It is one of the most prized traditional cage birds in China, where singing competitions are held and birds with the best repertoire fetch very high prices, which has emptied whole populations in the south of the country.
In Hong Kong and other cities there are parks where owners bring their cages in the morning so that the birds can sing together, an urban custom a century old.
It has been introduced to Hawaii, Taiwan and Singapore through escapes and ritual releases, and on some of those islands it has become firmly established.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Dense understorey, scrub and secondary forest of southern China, Vietnam and Laos
Sexual maturity: 12 months
Gestation / incubation: 14 days of incubation
Litter / clutch size: 4 eggs

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garrulax_canorus