Gray-Throated Warbler: A Popular Bird for Appreciation and Identification

Gray-throated Warbler (scientific name: *Hirundapus cochinchinensis*) has black plumage with a blue metallic sheen on its forehead, crown, sides of the head, nape, wings, and tail coverts, with smoky gray markings on the shoulder, back, and upper waist, forming an indistinct saddle-shaped grayish-brown spot on the back. The wings are long and narrow. The primary and secondary flight feathers are pale brown, and the third flight feathers are white, presenting as distinct long elliptical wing bars during flight. The chin and throat are smoky gray, and the upper neck, chest, abdomen, flanks, axillary feathers, and underwing coverts are dark brown. The nostrils are surrounded by white feathers, the toes and feet are reddish-brown, and the claws are yellowish-brown and transparent.

Chinese distribution: Found only in places like Lecheng in Hainan, it is a summer migratory bird, and may also have distribution in the south of Yunnan and south of Tibet.

It often flies over open areas and the upper parts of forests. Its flight speed is fast. It mainly catches flying insects in the air to eat.

Breeding season is between 2 and 3 months. It nests in rock caves and tree holes. The nest is made of moss, and is tightly bonded together with saliva. Each nest lays 3 eggs.