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This is a very common breeding resident found through out the country. It is a popular bird with a widespread range in South Asia and Southeast Asia. The nominate race is from the lowlands of Sri Lanka. Birds found in the highlands of Sri Lanka belong to the race Orthotomus sutorius fernandonis.

The conservation status of this species is regarded as Least Concerned (National Red List 2012).

This is a species protected under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance as amended by Act No. 22 of 2009.

This is a very common species found all over the country including the city of Colombo. Its popular for its nest made of leaves sewn together to form a cone. In urban areas I have often observed these nests built in plants with large leaves grown in pots and placed close to the entrance of a houses. As in the case of the Red-vented Bul Buls, Purple-rumped and Loten’s Sunbirds which build their nests very close to human dwellings and some time in side them this species also appear to seek the protection of humans against predators such as the Common Coucal and rat snakes.

I remember as a child how I used to cherish observing a nest of these species being built in a potted plant at our home in Colombo and how delighted I was when the tiny eggs produced four chicks. I have vivid memories of my mother feeding me small balls of rice and curry while pointing at the chicks being fed by their parents and how hungrily they gobble up the food.

This is a very common species found through out the park in Wilpattu.