Himalayan Shortwing
Brachypteryx cruralis
Tiny, stumpy bird of dense undergrowth. Male is dark slate-blue with broad white eyebrows that give him the appearance of a furious little old man. Female is warm pale brown all over. In areas of overlap with Chinese and Lesser Shortwings, look out for the all-dark lower belly, which is white in those species. Inhabits hill and montane forest, where it forages in dense undergrowth, frequently in proximity to streams. Song is composed of high thin whistles with short bursts of clicking chattering mixed in.
Identification
The Himalayan shortwing (Brachypteryx cruralis) is a species of chat. This species is now classified in the family Muscicapidae. It is found in South-east Asia from the Himalayas to southern China, northwestern Thailand and northern Indochina. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is a shy skulker, preferring to be on or near the ground, in the depths of dark vegetation, where it feeds on small insects, larvae, berries, seeds, sprouts and new buds of plants. The nest consists of moss and grass stems, placed in a dense shrub.
Taxonomy
Genus: Brachypteryx; Family: Muscicapidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Brachypteryx cruralis
- Authority
- (Blyth, 1843)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Muscicapidae
- Genus
- Brachypteryx
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Snowy-crowned Tern
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Attractive but often rather local tern of southern South America. Favors shallow coastal waters, but also ranges inland locally along rivers and lakes. Often associates with other terns on beaches and at river mouths. All plumages have diagnostic white head with narrow blackish mask and reddish legs. Breeding adult has an orange bill with a black-and-yellow tip. Nonbreeding birds have a black bill with a small yellow tip. Immature birds have a black bill with little or no pale tip.
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