Tesia olivea
The Slaty-bellied Tesia (Tesia olivea) is a minute and enigmatic passerine, instantly recognizable by its virtually non-existent tail, giving it a distinctive plump, almost spherical appearance. Measuring a mere 8-9 cm in length and weighing 6-9 grams, this diminutive bird sports a striking olive-green plumage across its back and crown, contrasting with a dark olive-grey face and a prominent whitish crescent around its eye, which helps distinguish it from congeners. Its most defining feature,...
Found primarily in dense undergrowth of broadleaved evergreen forests, bamboo thickets, and secondary growth, often near streams, at elevations ranging from 600 to 2,500 meters.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on small insects, larvae, and spiders, which it gleans from low vegetation and leaf litter.
The Slaty-bellied Tesia is a highly secretive and primarily diurnal bird, spending its days skulking through the darkest, densest parts of the undergrowth, where it is more often heard than seen. Its foraging strategy involves meticulously gleaning small insects, larvae, and spiders from leaf lit...
The Slaty-bellied Tesia boasts a wide distribution across the Asian continent, primarily residing in the montane and submontane regions of the Himalayas and Southeast Asia. Its breeding range extends from central Nepal eastward through Bhutan, Northeast India (including Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh,...
Least Concern
- The Slaty-bellied Tesia is one of the world's smallest passerine birds, often compared in size to a bumblebee in its dense habitat. - Its name 'tesia' is believed to be derived from a local Nepalese name, reflecting its native range. - Despite its tiny stature, its song is remarkably loud and f...