Whispering gently to my sweetheart, I’m falling in love - Red-billed Leiothrix

（国家二级保护动物）

(Second-Grade State Protection Animal)

红嘴相思鸟（学名：Leiothrix lutea）小型鸟类，体长13-16cm。嘴赤红色，上体暗灰绿色、眼先、眼周淡黄色，耳羽浅灰色或橄榄灰色。两翅具黄色和红色翅斑，尾叉状、黑色，颏、喉黄色，胸橙黄色。 栖息于海拔1200-2800m的山地常绿阔叶林、常绿落叶混交林、竹林和林缘疏林灌丛地带。主要以毛虫、甲虫、蚂蚁等昆虫为食，也吃植物果实、种子等植物性食物。相思鸟鸣声欢快、色彩华美，加之休息时紧靠一起互相舔整羽毛，非常亲热，被人们认为是甜美爱情的象征。

Red-billed Leiothrix (Scientific Latin Name: Leiothrix lutea) is small, only about 13 -16 cm long. They have bright red bills, dull grayish green upper body, a dull yellow ring around eyes and pale gray or dull olive green feathers around ears. Yellow and red spots are present on wings, black tails looking like a fork, yellow chins and throats, and orange chests. They inhabit evergreen broad-leaved forests, evergreen mixed deciduous forests, bamboo forests, forest edge woodlands, and scrub areas at an altitude of 1200-2800m. They mainly feed on insects such as caterpillars, beetles and ants, as well as vegetable food such as seeds and fruits. These birds are brightly colored and sing lovely and happy songs, plus they look very affectionate when they rest and lick each other’s feathers, so people see them as a symbol of sweet love.