The black-browed fulvetta is a 15.5 to 16.5 cm long species of passerine bird in the family Alcippeidae. It is found in subtropical or tropical moist montane evergreen forests, adjacent secondary growth and bamboo in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Region
Mainland Southeast Asia
Typical Environment
Occurs in subtropical to tropical moist montane evergreen forests and adjacent secondary growth across parts of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. It is closely associated with dense understory, especially bamboo thickets and shrubby edges. Birds typically keep low to mid-levels in the forest, using cover while foraging. It can persist in lightly degraded habitats provided sufficient understory remains.
Altitude Range
600–2200 m
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A small, active understory babbler, the black-browed fulvetta often moves in family parties and mixed-species flocks. It favors dense bamboo and evergreen thickets on montane slopes, where it forages quietly but constantly. Its distinctive dark eyebrow contrasts with a pale face, aiding field identification in dim forest light.
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually found in pairs or small family groups and frequently joins mixed-species flocks in the understory. Nests are typically cup-shaped and placed low in dense shrubs or bamboo. Breeding is presumed in the warm season, with adults remaining on territories year-round.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a soft series of thin, high-pitched whistles and trills delivered from cover. Calls include sharp chips and scolds used to keep contact within flocks. Vocalizations can be easily missed in windy bamboo where they often forage.
Plumage
Warm brown upperparts with paler, buffy underparts and a whitish throat; cheeks pale with subtle grey tones. A distinct black eyebrow line runs from the lores over the eye, contrasting with the face. Wings and tail show rufous-brown tones; overall plumage is soft and unpatterned aside from the brow.
Diet
Primarily gleaning small insects, spiders, and other arthropods from leaves and twigs. Also takes small berries and seeds when available, especially in the non-breeding season. Foraging is methodical, with frequent pauses to pick prey from foliage.
Preferred Environment
Feeds in dense understory and bamboo tangles inside montane evergreen forest and along edges. Often forages 0.5–3 m above ground, moving through thickets and along trails.
