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Dusky Fulvetta - BirdForum Opus

Revision as of 21:57, 20 October 2016 by Deliatodd-18346 (talk | contribs) (China Guy's image replaced as not in the Gallery. Basic tidy-up. References updated.)
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Alternative names: Brown-capped Fulvetta; Brown-eared Fulvetta; Gould's Fulvetta; Gould's Nun-Babbler; Rufous Fulvetta; Rufous-headed Fulvetta

Photo by Dave Irving
Taipei, Taiwan, August 2016
Schoeniparus brunneus

Identification

13cm - 13.5cm (5-5¼ in)

  • Brown above
  • Rufous cap with thin black line
  • Grey buff below
  • Light brown iris
  • Dark brown bill
  • Pink legs

Sexes similar.

Similar species

Distinguished from Rusty-capped Fulvetta by very different facial appearance with supercilium and neck side grey and ear-coverts buffy grey.

Distribution

Found in south, central and east China and Taiwan.
Following Clements the range would expand to India, Burma, Laos and Vietnam (see Taxonomy).
Common in parts of its range.

Taxonomy

Has been considered to be conspecific with Rusty-capped Fulvetta, but the two occur sympatrically in China. However, the boundaries between this two species are not clear and some subspecies are either placed in one or in the other species.

Formerly placed in genus Alcippe or in Pseudominla.

Subspecies

Five subspecies accepted[1]:

  • S. b. brunneus in Taiwan
  • S. b. argutus on Hainan (China)
  • S. b. superciliaris in southeast China (Guangxi to Hunan, Anhi, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong)
  • S. b. weigoldi in the Red Basin of Sichuan (China)
  • S. b. olivaceus in southcentral China (Sichuan to Shaanxi, Hubei and Guizhou)

Clements doesn't accept weigoldi and places mandellii, genestieri and intermedia (subspecies of Rusty-capped Fulvetta) in this species. However this view is not generally accepted in the region.

Habitat

Broadleaf evergreen forest and grass-jungle. Found at 600m to 1700m in China, mainly at 1525 - 1830m in Taiwan.

Behaviour

Diet

Feeds on insects, snails and seeds.

Usually seen near the ground, skulking, in small groups.

Breeding

Breeding season April to June. The nest is a loose dome or semi-dome with an entrance at the upper part. It's made of leaf fibres, dead leaves and grass, placed in a bush. Lays 4 - 5 eggs (Taiwan 2 -3).

Movements

Resident species.

Vocalisation

<flashmp3> Dusky Fulvetta.MP3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
Recording by China Guy
North East Sichuan, China, March 2011

Gallery

Click on photo for larger image

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2016. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2016, with updates to August 2016. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2007. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 12: Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553422
  3. Rasmussen, PC and JC Anderton. 2005. Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334672

Recommended Citation

External Links

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