Pnoepyga immaculata
The Nepal Cupwing (Pnoepyga immaculata) is a diminutive and highly secretive passerine, measuring a mere 8-9 cm in length, giving it a plump, almost tailless appearance. Its plumage is primarily a dull olive-brown dorsally, transitioning to a paler buffy or whitish underbelly that can sometimes exhibit faint, fine scaling, distinguishing it from the more distinctly patterned Scaly-breasted Cupwing. A key field mark is its extraordinarily short tail, making it look like a tiny, round ball of f...
Found in dense undergrowth of mossy montane forests, rhododendron thickets, and bamboo stands, typically at elevations between 1,800 to 3,700 meters.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a variety of small invertebrates such as beetles, ants, spiders, and their larvae, typically gleaned from leaf litter and moss.
The Nepal Cupwing is a highly reclusive and ground-dwelling bird, typically active during the day but exceptionally difficult to observe due to its skulking nature. It forages by hopping and creeping through leaf litter, moss, and dense vegetation, meticulously gleaning invertebrates. Males are h...
The Nepal Cupwing is resident across a relatively narrow but high-altitude band spanning the eastern Himalayas and adjoining regions. Its breeding range encompasses central and eastern Nepal, Bhutan, and Northeast India, including areas like Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and the Darjeeling hills of ...
Least Concern
- Despite its incredibly small size (8-9 cm), the Nepal Cupwing possesses an astonishingly loud and clear song that can be heard from a significant distance. - Its scientific name, *immaculata*, means 'unspotted' or 'immaculate,' referring to the lack of distinct spots or scaling on its breast, u...