First breeding record of the black-headed penduline tit (Remiz macronyx) in China

Black-headed penduline tit (Remiz macronyx) is a poorly known bird species mainly distributed in Iran, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan. The distribution of black-headed penduline tit is disjointed and fragmented, and it occurs only along lakes or rivers surrounded by extensive reedbeds. Four subspecies of R. macronyx have been recognized (macronyx, neglectus, nigricans, and ssaposhnikowi). The ssaposhnikowi subspecies was previously known to occur only around lakes in southeastern Kazakhstan. In this study, we reported the first confirmed breeding record of R. m. ssaposhnikowi in the Nalati wetland, Ili, Xinjiang, China, extending the distribution range of the black-headed penduline tit by 350 km to the east. We also obtained new information about the morphology and breeding behavior of R. m. ssaposhnikowi, which can be useful for the taxonomy of penduline tits, especially in distinguishing black-headed penduline tits from Eurasian penduline tits (R. pendulinus).