
Photo: Gustav Mützel · Public domain
Calliope obscura
Habitat
Bamboo thickets within coniferous forest, 3,000–3,400 m
Range
Breeds in north-central China (Qinling Mountains, Shaanxi); wintering grounds uncertain
The blackthroat, also called the black-throated robin (Calliope obscura), breeds in north-central China, in bamboo thickets within coniferous forest at 3,000–3,400 m, but its wintering grounds are uncertain; it has been recorded as a vagrant in north-western Thailand. It is threatened by habitat loss. (Wikipedia, general species account)
The species was discovered in 1891, but for the next 120 years only a handful of individuals were seen and no female has been conclusively identified, earning it the title 'Asia's most enigmatic robin'. In June 2011 a team of scientists discovered its breeding grounds in the Qinling Mountains, Shaanxi. (Wikipedia, general species account)