Cutia nipalensis
The Himalayan Cutia (Cutia nipalensis) is a captivating passerine belonging to the Leiothrichidae family, celebrated for its striking plumage and distinctive foraging habits. Measuring around 18-19 cm in length and weighing 30-40 grams, this compact bird features rich chestnut upperparts, an intricate pattern of black and white barring across its flanks and belly, and a prominent rufous cap with a broad white supercilium. Males exhibit more vibrant chestnut and black markings compared to the ...
Inhabiting subtropical and tropical moist montane broadleaf and mixed forests, the Himalayan Cutia typically occurs at elevations ranging from 1,200 to 2,600 meters, occasionally lower or higher seasonally.
Primarily insectivorous, the Himalayan Cutia feeds on a variety of insects, their larvae, pupae, and spiders, obtained by gleaning and probing bark and moss on tree trunks and branches.
Himalayan Cutias are diurnal birds, often observed singly or in pairs during the breeding season, but more frequently joining mixed-species foraging flocks during the non-breeding months. Their foraging strategy is particularly unique: they meticulously glean insects and their larvae from tree tr...
The Himalayan Cutia (Cutia nipalensis) boasts a broad but fragmented distribution across the montane forests of the Himalayas and Southeast Asia, primarily as a resident species with some altitudinal movements. Its range extends from central Nepal eastward through Bhutan, northeast India (Arunach...
Least Concern
- The genus name "Cutia" is derived from the Nepali word for this bird, highlighting its close association with the Himalayan region. - Unlike many birds that glean bark, the Himalayan Cutia frequently forages head-down, similar to a nuthatch, but uses its robust bill to pry open bark rather than...