Cettia castaneocoronata
The Chestnut-headed Tesia (Cettia castaneocoronata) is a diminutive and strikingly marked Old World warbler, belonging to the Cettiidae family. Measuring a mere 8-10 centimeters in length and weighing around 5-8 grams, it is one of the smallest members of its genus. Its most distinctive field mark is its rich, rufous-chestnut crown and nape, contrasting sharply with a prominent white supercilium and a dark eye-stripe. The back and wings are a dull olive-green, while its underparts are pale, o...
Primarily found in dense undergrowth, thickets, and bamboo stands within submontane to montane evergreen and broadleaf forests. It typically inhabits elevations ranging from 600 to 2,500 meters, often near streams or damp areas.
Feeds primarily on small invertebrates, including various insects (beetles, ants, small caterpillars) and spiders. It forages by actively gleaning from foliage, branches, and the forest floor within dense undergrowth.
The Chestnut-headed Tesia is a highly active and secretive diurnal bird, spending most of its time skulking in the dense lower strata of vegetation. It forages by gleaning small invertebrates from leaves, twigs, and moss, often hopping rapidly and moving through tangles with surprising agility. M...
The Chestnut-headed Tesia boasts a wide distribution across the Indomalayan realm, primarily residing in the sub-Himalayan and Southeast Asian mountain ranges. Its breeding range extends from central Nepal eastward through Bhutan, Northeast India (including Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mi...
Least Concern
- Despite its tiny size, the Chestnut-headed Tesia possesses an extraordinarily loud and far-carrying song, often the only indication of its presence. - It is one of the smallest and most distinctive members of the Cettiidae family, known for its short tail and skulking habits. - Its rich chestnu...