Grey-hooded parrotbill (Sinosuthora zappeyi) is mainly found in arrow bamboos or shrubs at an altitude of 2,500-3,200m in Sichuan, Guizhou and Yunnan etc. It is a globally endangered species determined as vulnerable by IOC. In February 2021, grey-hooded parrotbill was added to the list of key protected wild animals in China, and the protection level is set to  grade II. The bird is small (13 cm) with gray and crested head, and obvious white eye circles. The upper body of the bird is brown; the tertials and central tail feathers are dark; the throat and chest are pale gray and the abdomen is pink brown, and with brown iris, yellow mouth and grayish feet.

Grey-hooded parrotbill roost in shrubs or inhabit in the understory vegetation layer of bamboo forest in mountainous area in small groups. They often move in groups with more than 10 members in the bushes, foraging with spectacled fulvetta. It feeds on lepidoptera larvae, beetles, grass seeds, etc. and are mainly distributed in the areas with an altitude of 2,350-2,750m. Recently, an amateur photographer took a video of grey-hooded parrotbill in the suburb in Shangri-La. It is rare to record this bird at an altitude of 3,400m, which proves that the ecological protection of Diqing has achieved remarkable results. (Photo by Luo Jun)

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(Editors: Irene, Christine)