Minla ignotincta
The Red-tailed Minla (*Minla ignotincta*) is a captivating small passerine, belonging to the Old World babbler family Leiothrichidae. Measuring approximately 13-15 cm in length and weighing 10-16 grams, its striking plumage features a diagnostic black cap contrasted with a bright white supercilium and black eyestripe. The upperparts are olive-brown to rufous, giving way to clean white underparts, sometimes with a pale yellow wash. What truly distinguishes this minla are the vivid flashes of c...
Exclusively found in subtropical and tropical moist montane forests and high-altitude shrubland, typically at elevations between 1,000 and 3,000 meters, preferring dense undergrowth.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a variety of insects, spiders, and larvae gleaned from foliage, supplemented by berries, small fruits, and flower nectar.
The Red-tailed Minla is a highly active, diurnal species, often encountered in pairs or small family groups. During the non-breeding season, it frequently joins mixed-species foraging flocks, moving rapidly through the forest understory and mid-story. Its primary foraging strategy involves gleani...
The Red-tailed Minla boasts a relatively wide distribution across the Asian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Its core breeding range extends through the Himalayas, encompassing Nepal, Bhutan, and northeastern India (particularly Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Assam). Further east, it is a residen...
Least Concern
- The Red-tailed Minla's vibrant red wing patches and tail base are a key identification feature, making it one of the more colorful "babblers. - Despite its small size, it's a prominent member of mixed-species foraging flocks, often leading or following groups of other small insectivores through...