Why is the tailor bird so called?

            As the name suggests, the tailor bird is a ‘professional tailor’. They are excellent architects, skilled in building a well-engineered nest from raw materials like leaves and fibres. First they construct a funnel, by stitching the edges of a broad leaf. If the leaf is not broad enough, they will manage it by sewing more leaves together. The stitching will be done with cotton or twisted vegetable fibres and the ends will be cleverly knotted so that they do not get loose. Once the leafy basement is strong and ready, they build a cup-shaped nest in it with soft fibres, hair, cotton wool or vegetables.

            These birds have a green upper body and rusty brown forehead and crown. Found in pairs or singly, they are well-adapted to living in scrubby forests, gardens, villages and busy towns. They feed on insects and caterpillars. They also like the nectar of certain flowers and can be found circling the blossoms for it.

            The tailor birds can be found almost anywhere in India.