Black-throated Parrotbill (Paradoxornis nipalensis) - HBW 12, p. 317

Taxonomy: [Parus] Suthora Nipalensis Hodgson, 1837, Kathmandu Valley, Nepal.
Sometimes placed together with P. conspicillatus, P. webbianus, P. brunneus, P. alphonsianus, P. zappeyi, P. przewalskii, P. fulvifrons, P. verreauxi and P. atrosuperciliaris in a separate genus, Suthora. Has in the past been considered conspecific with P. verreauxi, but is very distinct morphologically; race craddocki of that species has erroneously been listed for present species by some authors. Races distinctive, may represent more than one species; simple division according to basic plumage differences would support treatment of nominate race and garhwalensis as one species, with four other species represented by, respectively, humii, poliotis (with feae), ripponi (with patriciae), and beaulieui (with kamoli). Race crocotius perhaps better treated as a semi-stable hybrid population; typical specimens are from Yonpu La (E Bhutan) and Shakti (extreme W Arunachal Pradesh, in NE India), but one from Yonpu La shows slightly closer resemblance to humii than do the others, and specimens from Deothang (S of Yonpu La) have more grey on ear-coverts, suggestive of poliotis. Proposed race daflaensis (from Dafla Hills, in NE India) currently synonymized with poliotis, but specimens appear to show signs of intergradation towards latter, rather than being identical with it; further study required. Birds observed in NE Thailand (Phu Lang) and S Laos of uncertain racial identity; presumed to belong with, respectively, beaulieui and kamoli, but corroboration needed. Ten subspecies currently recognized.