Golden-breasted Fulvetta

Overview

The golden-breasted fulvetta (Lioparus chrysotis) is a small songbird species classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. It is distinguished from other fulvettas by its broader bill, longer rictal bristles, and smaller hind claws.

Identification

• Small bird measuring 10–11.5 cm in length with a mass of 5–10 g.
• Black or grey head and crown with a median crown stripe that varies in presence, prominence, and colour depending on the population.
• Black wings featuring orange-yellow slashes, and secondaries tipped in white.
• Predominantly yellow underparts with a throat that is either grey or yellowish depending on the population; the brown tail has two-thirds of its base edged in orange-yellow.

Habitat

Found in central Nepal, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, China, and Vietnam. It inhabits temperate forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, specifically broad-leaved evergreen forests and montane bamboo. The species is an altitudinal migrant, moving from breeding grounds at 2,000–2,800 m to foothills as low as 1,600 m in winter.

Diet

Forages for insects at a low height in broad-leaved evergreen forests and montane bamboo. It moves in groups of up to 30 individuals in winter and often joins mixed-species foraging flocks.

Did you know?

Several species of feather mite, including Timalinyssus grallator and Neocalcealges chrysotis, have been described from specimens of this bird. Although its population is thought to be declining, the overall range is vast, and it faces pressure from collection for food and as pets.