Nuthatches (Sittidae)

Chestnut-vented Nuthatch (Sitta nagaensis) - HBW 13, p. 128

French: Sittelle des Naga German: Rostflankenkleiber Spanish: Trepador de las Naga
Other common names: Mountain/Naga Nuthatch

Taxonomy: Sitta nagaensis Godwin-Austen, 1874, Naga Hills, extreme north-east India.
Forms a superspecies with S. europaea, S. cashmirensis, S. castanea, S. cinnamoventris and S. neglecta. Formerly considered conspecific with S. europaea, but the two differ vocally, and in area of range overlap in E China (Fujian) they differ also in ecology (present species montane, S. europaea in lowlands); farther W in China, the two have been found at same locality in Sichuan and may overlap without intergradation, but situation far from clear, and more detailed study required. Birds of this species observed in NE Arunachal Pradesh (NE India) presumed to refer to race montium. Birds of this species observed in S Laos tentatively included in race grisiventris; allocation of widely separated populations (in W Myanmar, S Laos and S Vietnam) to same race, however, seems untenable, and more detailed study likely to demonstrate that one or more hitherto unnamed races are involved. Three subspecies currently recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution:

montium La Touche, 1899 - S & E China (SE Xizang, W & SW Sichuan, Yunnan and extreme SW Guizhou; isolated population in higher mountains of NW Fujian), extreme NE India (NE Arunachal Pradesh), E Myanmar (N Kachin S to S Shan State) and NW Thailand.
nagaensis Godwin-Austen, 1874 - NE India (Patkai Range of SE Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Cachar hills of S Assam, Khasi hills of Meghalaya) and W Myanmar (N Chin Hills).
grisiventris Kinnear, 1920 - SW Myanmar (Mt Victoria, and probably also other mountains of C& S Chin Hills), S Laos (Bolovens Plateau) and S Vietnam (Da Lat Plateau S to Mt Pantar).