Yuhina occipitalis
The Rufous-vented Yuhina (Yuhina occipitalis) is a charismatic and highly social passerine bird, instantly recognizable by its distinctive rufous undertail coverts that contrast sharply with its otherwise muted plumage. This small songbird typically measures around 12-13 cm (4.7-5.1 in) in length and weighs between 9-16 grams. Key field marks include a greyish-brown head with a short, pointed crest, a prominent white eye-ring that gives it a wide-eyed appearance, and a warm brown back and win...
Found primarily in subtropical and tropical moist montane forests, as well as high-altitude scrub, often at elevations ranging from 1,200 to 3,600 meters (3,900-11,800 feet) above sea level.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on small insects and their larvae gleaned from foliage and bark; also consumes nectar from flowering plants and small berries.
Rufous-vented Yuhinas are highly diurnal and gregarious, often found in large flocks of 10 to 50 individuals, sometimes even more, especially outside the breeding season. They are active foragers, constantly moving through the forest canopy and understory, often hanging upside down like tits or p...
The Rufous-vented Yuhina boasts a wide distribution across the Himalayan range and into Southeast Asia. Its primary breeding and year-round range extends from central Nepal eastward through Bhutan, Arunachal Pradesh in northeastern India, and into northern Myanmar. Further populations are found a...
Least Concern
- The name 'Yuhina' is derived from a Nepalese term for these small, active babblers. - These birds are renowned for their acrobatic foraging style, often seen hanging upside down from branches or twigs like tits. - Rufous-vented Yuhinas are a classic 'nuclear species' in mixed-species foraging f...