Red-billed Leiothrix in Italy

[gawnbirding]

In April 2007 I found three Red-billed Leiothrix, Leiothrix lutea (aka "Peking Robin") in the foothills of Liguria, Italy. Two were together, acting as a pair, the other was about a kilometer away. I was staying at a B&B in the country and the nearest village was about 5km distant. The birds were in dense brush adjacent to broadleaf forest. They looked and acted very "wild", actively foraging and moving about through the underbrush. Is anyone aware of feral population of this species in Liguria or elswhere in Italy/Southern France, etc? I would be happy to provide more precise information to interested parties.

[Odonate]

Hi

Breeding Red-billed Leiothrix has been recorded in Italy, close to Liguria at Lucca in Tuscany. As far as I know, it has never been recorded in Liguria. If you give me the details of place and date, I'll be happy to pass them on.

[italianbirder]

It is a breeding species also in the Euganean Hills, S of Padua, NE Italy.

[Alex Lees]

Is anyone aware of feral population of this species in Liguria or elswhere in Italy/Southern France, etc? I would be happy to provide more precise information to interested parties.

They are also established in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France, see paper in Ornithos here (http://s1.e-monsite.com/2009/03/10/63790236leiothrix-bearn-e1-pdf.pdf).

[Motmot]

Also established near Barcelona.

[RichB]

Red-billed Leiothrix can also be found in northern France at Foret Regionale de Galluis, Fremainville - I saw at least 3 birds here during an hour or so visit in January 2006.

[ornitho11]

Also in the Var valley (near Nice)...