Yellow-bellied tit

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Yellow-bellied tit

The yellow-bellied tit (Periparus venustulus) is a small bird in the Paridae family. It is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. The species was first described by Robert Swinhoe in 1870 and is endemic to China, meaning it is found only there. It lives in temperate forests and moist lowland forests in subtropical or tropical areas, usually below 2000 meters in altitude, and it can also be found in urban green spaces.

Male yellow-bellied tits are very territorial, but they show the “dear-enemy” effect, meaning they tolerate neighboring birds and keep peaceful relations. Some individuals prefer using one leg over the other, a trait called footedness. In the past, the species has been classified under different names, such as Parus venustulus and Pardaliparus venustulus.