Schoeniparus castaneceps
The Rufous-winged Fulvetta (*Schoeniparus castaneceps*) is a charmingly small passerine, typically measuring 10-11 cm in length and weighing a mere 7-9 grams. Its most distinctive feature is a striking head pattern, characterized by a bright rufous crown bordered by a prominent white supercilium, which in turn is capped by a bold black lateral crown stripe extending from the lores to the nape. The upperparts are olive-green, contrasting with greyish-white underparts, and the 'rufous-winged' m...
This species primarily inhabits subtropical and tropical moist montane forests, high-altitude evergreen broadleaf forests, and shrubland, often utilizing secondary growth. It is found at elevations ranging from 900 to 3000 meters, sometimes higher.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on small invertebrates such as beetles, spiders, and larvae. They occasionally supplement their diet with small seeds or berries.
The Rufous-winged Fulvetta is a diurnal and highly active bird, frequently observed as a prominent member, and sometimes even the leader, of mixed-species foraging flocks during the non-breeding season. It employs an active gleaning foraging strategy, meticulously searching for insects among the ...
The Rufous-winged Fulvetta is a resident species distributed across a wide arc of the Himalayas and Southeast Asia. Its range extends from central Nepal eastward through Bhutan and Northeast India, including states like Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. Further east, it is found across northern Myanm...
Least Concern
- Despite its small size, the Rufous-winged Fulvetta is often seen as a 'leader' or 'nuclear species' in the mixed-species foraging flocks of the Himalayas and Southeast Asia. - Its taxonomy has been a subject of debate among ornithologists, having been reclassified multiple times between differe...