The blue-fronted robin is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is the only species in the monotypic genus Cinclidium. It is found in Bhutan, China, Northeast India, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, and possibly Nepal. Its natural habitat is temperate forests.
Region
Eastern Himalayas and Indochina
Typical Environment
Occurs from Bhutan and Northeast India through southern China to Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam, with records possibly from Nepal. It inhabits cool, moist montane broadleaf and mixed forests with dense understory, often near ravines, streams, and bamboo thickets. The species prefers shaded, mossy ground layers and tangled vegetation where it can forage inconspicuously. In the non-breeding season it may move to slightly lower elevations within the same mountain ranges.
Altitude Range
1200–3000 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The blue-fronted robin is the sole member of the genus Cinclidium, making it taxonomically unique. Males show a striking cobalt-blue forehead and face, while females are much duller and brownish, a classic example of sexual dimorphism. It is a shy, ground-frequenting robin that prefers dense, shadowy undergrowth in montane forests and often undertakes altitudinal movements between seasons.
Temperament
shy and skulking
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually solitary or in pairs during the breeding season. Nests are cup-shaped and placed low, often on banks, among roots, or in dense understory. Pairs defend small territories and keep close to cover, moving quietly through thickets.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
Song is a series of thin, high-pitched, melodious whistles delivered from concealed perches. Calls include soft tsip notes and quiet contact sounds that are easy to overlook in dense vegetation.
Plumage
Male is deep cobalt to navy blue with a brighter blue forehead and face; wings and tail are darker bluish with subtle gloss. Female is warm brown to olive-brown above with paler, slightly buffy underparts and faint streaking. Both sexes show a relatively plain underwing and fine, soft-textured plumage suited to shaded forest.
Diet
Primarily feeds on insects and other small arthropods, gleaned from leaf litter and low vegetation. It will occasionally take small snails or other invertebrates. In some seasons it supplements its diet with small berries or fruit when available.
Preferred Environment
Forages on the forest floor and in the lower understory of cool, moist montane forests. Often keeps to ravines, stream edges, and dense bamboo or shrub layers where cover is abundant.
