Fulvetta cinereiceps
The Grey-hooded Fulvetta (Fulvetta cinereiceps) is a diminutive and sprightly passerine, measuring approximately 11-13 cm (4.3-5.1 inches) in length and weighing a mere 7-12 grams. Its most distinctive feature is a soft, ash-grey hood that covers the head and nape, sharply contrasting with striking white lores and a prominent dark eye-line. The upperparts are generally olive-brown to reddish-brown, while the underparts are whitish or pale buff, sometimes exhibiting a subtle wash or fine strea...
This species thrives in high-altitude montane evergreen and mixed broadleaf forests, bamboo thickets, and rhododendron scrub, typically found between 1,500 and 3,500 meters (5,000-11,500 feet) above sea level.
Its diet primarily consists of small insects, including beetles, caterpillars, and spiders, supplemented by other invertebrates. Occasionally, it will also consume small berries and fruits, especially during colder months.
The Grey-hooded Fulvetta is a highly active and arboreal bird, spending its days gleaning insects from foliage, small branches, and bark with remarkable agility, often hanging upside down to reach prey. Outside the breeding season, it is frequently encountered in small, cohesive groups or as an i...
The Grey-hooded Fulvetta boasts a substantial distribution across the mountainous regions of Asia, extending from the eastern Himalayas in Nepal, Bhutan, and Northeast India, eastward through Myanmar, southern China (notably Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou provinces), northern Laos, and northern Vie...
Least Concern
- The Grey-hooded Fulvetta is an expert 'gleaner', often seen performing acrobatic maneuvers like hanging upside down to pluck insects from the underside of leaves and branches. - It is a prominent member of mixed-species foraging flocks in the Himalayas and Southeast Asia, acting as a nuclear sp...